Russia accused of using deceit and force to recruit migrant fighters

According to the latest report by the U.S. Department of State on human trafficking, known as Trafficking in Persons (TIP), Russia uses various methods, including deceit, pressure, and even force, to compel foreigners to join its armed forces and fight on the Ukrainian front.

Cindy Dyer, a representative of the U.S. Department of State who presented this year's TIP report, explained that Russia stands accused of "exploiting pressure, deceit, and in some cases force to recruit foreigners, especially migrants from Central and South Asia, as well as citizens of Cuba and Syria, for its aggression against Ukraine."

Reports of such practices surfaced earlier, including in Bloomberg, which described how Russian authorities are forcing migrants and students from Africa to fight on the Ukrainian front. Those compelled to fight often face a dilemma: either participate in the conflict or be deported to their home country. Units composed of migrants are suffering hefty losses in the Russian offensive near Kharkiv.

The TIP report once again placed Russia on the lowest Tier 3 level of countries in terms of combating human trafficking. This category includes countries that are actively and systematically involved in this practice. Apart from the forced recruitment of migrants, the report also mentions the exploitation of workers from North Korea and the abduction of thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia. The International Criminal Court has charged the Russian president for these actions.

Belarus has also been downgraded to the lowest level, partly due to a "state-sponsored" migration practice, which involves leading migrants to third countries and deporting some back to their countries of origin without checking their situation.