Investigative reports from major news outlets or official documents

Russia Coerces Hundreds of Houthi Mercenaries to Fight in Ukraine

Nov 24, 2024, 10:20 AM

Russia has enlisted hundreds of Yemeni men, primarily from the Houthi rebel group, to fight in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. These recruits were brought to Russia through a secretive trafficking operation run by a Houthi-linked company, which underscores the deepening ties between Moscow and the Houthis. The Yemeni fighters were lured with promises of high-paying jobs and Russian citizenship, but upon arrival, they were coerced into joining the Russian army and sent to the front lines in Ukraine. The operation began as early as July, with some contracts dated from July 3, signed by the head of the contractor selection center in Nizhny Novgorod. The involvement of these mercenaries highlights Russia's efforts to avoid a full-scale mobilization within its borders, as well as the Kremlin's strategy to bolster its forces with foreign fighters amid rising casualties.