Ukraine war - Russia sends around 10,000 immigrants to the front line
Russian authorities have reportedly sent over 10,000 naturalized men to the attack war against Ukraine, according to their own statements. "We have already captured more than 30,000 (migrants) who have obtained citizenship but did not want to register for military service, and have sent about 10,000 of them to the zone of military special operation," said the head of the Russian Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, at an appearance at the St. Petersburg Lawyers' Forum. Bastrykin was a classmate of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin and is considered one of his close associates.
Immigrants were primarily responsible for digging trenches and constructing fortifications, Bastrykin said. "For that, you really need strong hands," he added. In recent months, security services have conducted raids in enterprises with guest workers, particularly from post-Soviet states in Central Asia.
Media in Russia reported that immigrants who had already received Russian passports were often forcibly recruited. Others were promised simplified naturalization procedures upon deployment to the front.
According to Putin's statements, there are currently a total of 700,000 Russian soldiers at the front. Some of them were recruited in the autumn of 2022 during a partial mobilization. Since the measure was unpopular, the Kremlin intends to forgo further mobilization waves and seeks other ways to make up for losses.
Bastrykin saw an advantage in the forced recruitment of naturalized citizens: Many migrants would leave Russia as a result, he said.
- The forced recruitment of naturalized men, as revealed by Bastrykin, has seen over 10,000 individuals sent to the front of the war against Ukraine.
- The Russian Investigative Committee head, Alexander Bastrykin, who shares a past with Vladimir Putin, spoke about this issue at a St. Petersburg Lawyers' Forum.
- Bastrykin mentioned that the majority of immigrants, who had been primarily responsible for digging trenches and constructing fortifications, were those who had obtained Russian citizenship but refused military service.
- In response, Russian authorities have reportedly sent these recalcitrant individuals to the war zone, contributing to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
- This forced migration has been a topic of concern in the media, with reports suggesting that immigrants with Russian passports are being involuntarily recruited for the war.
- As a result of this forced recruitment, some migrants are choosing to leave Russia, as pointed out by Bastrykin, which could potentially lead to a decrease in the nation's migrant population.
- Amidst these conflicts, Putin has stated that there are currently 700,000 Russian soldiers stationed at the front, with some being recently recruited during a partial mobilization in the autumn of 2022.
