Russia continues to recruit citizens of countries in the Global South to take part in the war against Ukraine. Advertising for service in the Russian army is being actively circulated in Thailand’s information space.
This is reported by the Centre for Countering Disinformation.
According to the CCD, Thai citizens are being lured into the Russian army with promises of payments of around $70,000 for signing a contract. Potential servicemen are also promised service supposedly deep in the rear and the opportunity to obtain Russian citizenship.
The Centre notes that in practice, foreigners from countries in the Global South recruited in this way may end up in dangerous sections of the front line and may not receive the promised payments.
The CCD links the intensification of foreign recruitment to Russia’s need to compensate for losses in the war and to a decline in the number of Russians willing to sign contracts for military service.
“The Kremlin is increasingly resorting to recruiting foreigners, not shying away from manipulation and outright deception,” the Centre said.
- A Russian network recruiting foreigners for the war against Ukraine uses Western digital platforms, advertising tools and technological infrastructure.