



Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service says it has identified at least 27 Yemeni citizens Russia intends to recruit for its war effort, with Russian military officials reportedly handling the paperwork to legalize their status first. The agency names a Lt. Pervushin, based in Khanty-Mansiysk, as having asked border authorities in July 2026 to legalize the men's status so contracts could follow.
The mechanism reportedly relies on a Putin decree simplifying citizenship and residency procedures for foreigners, who are then signed to military contracts. Ukrainian intelligence says those targeted include men born as recently as 2007.
The report situates this alongside other recent findings: Botswana has flagged citizens deceived into fighting for Russia, researchers have tallied thousands of foreign nationals killed fighting on Russia's side, and the European Parliament has accused Moscow of running trafficking-style recruitment schemes.
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