August M
Reports from Middle Eastern media outlets suggest Russia is increasingly targeting Yemeni men for military recruitment tied to the war in Ukraine, offering salaries far above local income levels and promises of fast-track citizenship.
Some recruits and their families now reportedly say that those who accepted the offers became trapped in dangerous frontline conditions with little chance of returning home, reports 02.pl.
Lucrative offers
According to Middle East Eye, intermediaries connected to recruitment networks are focusing heavily on young Yemeni men with combat experience from regions including Taiz, Marib, and areas near the Saudi border.
The reported offers include a signing payment of $15,000, monthly salaries of up to $5,000, and assistance obtaining Russian citizenship.
The financial incentives stand in stark contrast to military wages in Yemen, where experienced soldiers reportedly earn around $260 per month.
Many of those approached are veterans of Yemen’s long-running internal conflicts and are believed to view their battlefield experience as increasing their chances of survival.
Warnings ignored
A former Yemeni Republican Guard member identified as Fawzi told journalists that several of his former colleagues traveled to Russia during 2025 despite growing concerns over casualties and disappearances.
“I saw that almost none of my colleagues had returned, and I rejected the offer, understanding that these financial rewards would be paid for with my blood,” he said.
According to the reports, online videos have surfaced showing Yemeni recruits pleading for help to return home after being sent to combat zones.
Some reportedly claim they are not permitted to leave before the expiration of one-year military contracts signed after arriving in Russia.
Claims of deception
Journalist Mohammed Ali, cited by Middle East Eye, said awareness about the risks has increased among potential recruits compared with earlier stages of the recruitment campaign.
However, he alleged that in 2023 and early 2024 some intermediaries used misleading promises to attract foreign workers.
According to the reports, certain recruits were allegedly told they would receive civilian jobs in sectors such as agriculture or hospitality before later being transferred to military camps and pressured into signing combat contracts.
The full scale of the recruitment effort remains unclear, and there has been no confirmed response from Yemeni authorities regarding the online appeals for assistance.
Moscow responds
Russian officials have rejected accusations that foreigners are being coerced into military service.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that overseas volunteers joining Russian forces were doing so willingly and in line with Russian law.
Russia has increasingly relied on foreign recruits and contract soldiers during the war in Ukraine as fighting continues across multiple fronts.
Sources: 02.pl, Middle East Eye
