Kyiv, Ukraine – Job offers posted online, promises of overseas work and contracts written in Russian are among the supposed methods to recruit foreigners in Russia’s war in Ukraine, including Filipinos identified in Ukrainian military data.
Ukraine-based war crimes group Truth Hounds said Ukrainian coordination headquarters recorded 14 Filipinos who had signed contracts with Russian forces by the beginning of the year.
The figure was part of data that also listed 16 Vietnamese, 10 Indonesians, two Cambodians, and one each from Malaysia and Myanmar, the group said.
The war monitor said the figures were based on people officially recorded as having signed contracts with the Russian military. The 14-Filipino figure has not been publicly confirmed by the Philippine government.
From job offers to military contracts
Olena Pashkovska, head of communications at Truth Hounds, said recruiters use Facebook, messaging applications and local languages to reach potential recruits.
Some are allegedly offered jobs in hotels, construction, or other civilian work in Russia before discovering that the documents are military contracts.
Truth Hounds said some contracts are written in Cyrillic alphabet used in the Russian language, making it difficult for recruits to understand what they are signing off on.
Recruiters supposedly promise salaries, Russian citizenship, or assurances that recruits will not be sent into active combat.
“We call it predatory recruitment because it was like the people were recruited in a clear way with some manipulation from the Russian side, and they target vulnerable groups in difficult economic situations. I would say so,” said Pashkovska.
“They are trying to attack the most vulnerable people, like those who have problems with money, like probably this long level of education, this social connection. So like who is really willing to go somewhere, like gain money, yeah, to gain money, maybe to leave the country. Like it’s different options,” she added.
Truth Hounds said not every foreign national fighting for Russia was necessarily deceived. Some knowingly choose to join or remain with Russian forces.
On the other hand, foreign nationals are also fighting for Ukraine, including volunteers who have deliberately chosen to support Kyiv and, in some cases, have previous military experience.
“It works perfectly well in case of some people from Cuba who are fighting on the Russian side, and then in the best way, as you said, they are in captivity somewhere here in Kyiv,” said Jamal Marcelin, a journalist from United24 media.
After recruitment
The group said some foreign recruits are taken to Russian training centers after signing contracts.
They cited testimonies in which recruits allegedly had their phones taken away, were beaten and lost contact with families or embassies.
In one case involving a Colombian recruit, Truth Hounds said the person was allegedly offered construction work, had his passport and phone taken away, and was later sent into trench warfare.
Wider international war
The recruitment of foreign nationals is part of the broader international dimension of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa has pointed to Russia’s cooperation with countries including Iran and North Korea and said the conflict has consequences beyond Europe.
Betsa said Ukraine continues to face combined Russian attacks involving attack drones and different types of missiles, while seeking greater international support for air defense, military assistance, sanctions and political pressure.
Verify overseas job offers
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is aware of reports involving Filipinos who may have been recruited or enlisted in foreign armed forces.
It said Philippine foreign service posts are verifying information through appropriate channels and coordinating with relevant authorities.
“The department’s priority is the safety and welfare of Filipinos,” the DFA said.
The agency said it remains ready to provide consular assistance where appropriate and urged Filipinos to exercise caution when accepting overseas employment offers.
The DFA also advised Filipinos to verify the legitimacy of job offers, recruiters and employers, particularly where there may be a risk of recruitment into foreign armed forces.
