Edith Hejberg
Foreign nationals who volunteered to fight for Russia in Ukraine are now being left stranded or betrayed by the regime they served.
Many volunteers face deportation, prison, or legal uncertainty, despite risking their lives in combat. Experts describe the cases as part of a broader pattern of neglect by Moscow.
Brazilian Volunteer’s Struggle for Citizenship
A 31-year-old Brazilian, known as “Rafael,” moved to Russia to study, married a Russian woman, and served on the front lines in Donetsk.
Despite his military service and family ties, repeated citizenship applications have been rejected. Without a passport, he lives under constant threat of deportation.
From Avdiivka to Legal Limbo
Rafael took part in the storming of Avdiivka and has close ties to the Don Cossacks. His lawyer, Nikolai Litvinov, has appealed directly to the Kremlin for his citizenship, though experts doubt this will succeed.
His visa remains valid, but his lack of formal nationality leaves him in legal limbo.
Czech Fighter Faces Extradition
Jiří Urbánek, a Czech citizen, joined pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk in 2015. Convicted in absentia in the Czech Republic for terrorism and sentenced to 20 years, he was arrested in Russia in 2023 for lacking documents.
Now, he faces possible extradition under an Interpol red notice.
American Welder’s Broken Promises
Derek Huffman, a 46-year-old Texan, moved to Russia with his wife and three children to escape what he called “woke America.” Promised a logistics role,
Huffman was instead sent to the front lines after only two weeks of training, without speaking a word of Russian.
Family Left Struggling in Russia
Huffman’s wife posted a video describing their hardship. They never received the enlistment bonus they were promised and could not even afford to buy a car.
The family’s hopes for a better life have been replaced with disappointment and financial strain.
Moscow’s Neglect of Returning Veterans
Russia publicly praises its “special military operation” veterans as the nation’s hope. Yet, according to experts, those who return home receive little to no medical care, psychological support, or employment opportunities.
The state appears unable, or unwilling, to provide for them.
Experts Warn of Worsening Situation
Mark Galeotti, a leading Russia analyst, says the government’s rhetoric about honouring veterans is far removed from reality.
The gap between official speeches and actual treatment of fighters, he warns, is stark and widening.
‘Disposable’ in Today’s Russia
Keir Giles of Chatham House says the plight of foreign volunteers reflects a wider truth: in modern Russia, anyone without political power is expendable, regardless of their service or sacrifices for the country.
More Volunteers Could Face the Same Fate
With Moscow still recruiting fighters from abroad, analysts caution that many more foreign volunteers may soon find themselves abandoned, caught in the same web of broken promises, legal troubles, and official indifference.
