Bangladesh police have arrested two individuals linked to a trafficking network that allegedly recruited locals to fight for Russia in Ukraine. The suspects, identified as Mizanur Rahman and Abu Taher, are accused of trafficking at least 30 people to Russia under false pretenses of high-paying jobs, according to Mohammad Asaduzzaman, commander of the Special Response Battalion, reported on Wednesday.
According to police, the victims had their passports and phones confiscated upon arrival in Russia and were subsequently handed over to the Russian military. Seventeen of the victims, who arrived in early May, were reportedly killed on their first day of deployment after receiving minimal training. A total of 20 Bangladeshi nationals have been confirmed dead.
Asaduzzaman stated, "Bangladeshis were used as bait to locate enemy positions," adding that Russian forces determined their subsequent actions based on the victims' exposure to drone attacks. In addition to the fatalities, two other individuals are receiving treatment in a Moscow hospital, while six remain on the battlefield, according to a survivor who returned home after being injured.
The victims, primarily from impoverished backgrounds, reportedly paid around $8,000 for the fraudulent job offers that led them to Russia. Since the onset of the conflict in Ukraine over four years ago, both Russia and Ukraine have recruited thousands of foreign nationals into their military forces. Estimates suggest that around 28,000 foreigners from 136 countries are fighting for Russia, while Ukraine claims 16,000 foreign nationals from more than 70 countries are serving in its army.
During a speech at the United Nations General Assembly last month, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted that Russia is deceptively recruiting individuals from 47 countries for a "brutal" campaign and urged nations to avoid being drawn into the conflict. Amnesty International has accused Russia of employing "deceptive, coercive and exploitative practices" in its recruitment efforts, although Russia has denied these allegations. Amnesty has reported challenges in investigating the situation due to its designation as a "foreign agent" and lack of access to prisoners of war held in Russia.