UN Finds Evidence of Deceptive Recruitment of Foreign Nationals, Including Bangladeshis, Into Russian Army

The United Nations has found evidence that citizens of at least 29 countries, including Bangladesh, were deceived or coerced into joining the Russian military to fight in the war against Ukraine, according to a report by The Washington Post citing a report by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine.

The report was presented to the UN General Assembly’s human rights committee on Monday. It states that Moscow recruited foreign nationals aged between 18 and 60 into its armed forces through inducements and coercion, in violation of international law.

According to the report, many of those recruited came from economically disadvantaged and marginalised communities and had limited educational opportunities. Recruiters allegedly exploited their vulnerable circumstances to draw them into military service.

The commission said victims were initially taken to Russia through travel agencies and local brokers operating in various countries. Once there, they were allegedly forced to sign contracts with the Russian Defence Ministry written in Russian, a language they often could not understand.

Many reportedly realised only later that they were being sent directly to fight in Ukraine, leaving them shocked and distressed.

The commission examined information concerning nationals from 48 countries and found evidence of deceptive recruitment practices involving citizens of 29 of them.

The countries identified in the report are Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Brazil, Botswana, Cameroon, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ghana, Honduras, Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, the Philippines, South Africa, Somalia, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Türkiye, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Yemen and Zimbabwe.

The same report also documented the severe impact of Russia’s continued attacks on Ukraine’s electricity and energy infrastructure.

The commission said deliberately disrupting electricity and heating services during freezing winter conditions, causing widespread suffering among civilians, may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Speaking at a press conference, commission chair Erik Møse said attacks targeting civilian infrastructure had exposed ordinary people to inhumane suffering.

The report was based on testimony from 255 victims, medical professionals and civil society organisations in Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine during the winter of 2025–26.

Russia’s mission to the United Nations rejected the report, describing it as unfounded and based on false information.