Defense News ,Russia :- On Thursday, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree introducing a new policy that grants Russian citizenship to foreign nationals engaged in the conflict in Ukraine, along with their families. The directive specifies that individuals who have committed to contracts during what Moscow terms its "special military operation" in Ukraine are eligible to apply for Russian passports. This includes spouses, children, and parents, provided they can furnish documentation confirming a minimum one-year commitment.
Eligible candidates cover those who have entered into agreements with the regular armed forces or other "military formations," a category that encompasses entities like the Wagner mercenary organization. The move seems strategically designed to offer additional incentives for foreign individuals with military backgrounds to consider joining the Russian ranks.
Official figures on the number of foreigners fighting on Russia side in the Ukraine conflict remain undisclosed by Moscow. However, previous reports have shed light on instances such as Cubans enlisting in the military for substantial bonuses, exceeding 100 times the average Cuban monthly salary. Additionally, three Africans recruited by Wagner, two of whom lost their lives in action, were previously reported by Reuters.
A recently declassified U.S. intelligence report estimated Russia losses in the Ukraine war at 315,000 dead and wounded troops, constituting almost 90% of its personnel at the conflict onset. This information was relayed by an insider familiar with the intelligence findings to Reuters. In response to these losses, Russia initiated a mobilization effort in September 2022, drafting an additional 300,000 men in its first such move since World War Two. Speculation persists about the potential for a repeat mobilization after the upcoming presidential election in March, in which Putin is expected to secure another six-year term. Despite this, the Kremlin has consistently stated that further mobilization is unnecessary due to the voluntary commitments of hundreds of thousands of men who signed up to become professional soldiers last year.
The extent of losses on both sides of the 22-month war in Ukraine remains undisclosed by Russia and Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy revealed last month that his military had proposed mobilizing an additional 450,000-500,000 individuals. Concurrently, the Kyiv parliament commenced the review of a contentious draft legislation piece aiming to tighten and broaden mobilization rules.
——— End of Article ———
