According to data published by the Ukrainian initiative «I Want to Live», as of October 1, 2026, more than 20,400 citizens of Central Asian nations have purportedly signed contracts to participate in military operations within the ranks of the Russian Armed Forces. These figures were presented during a special briefing involving regional media outlets.

It is claimed that citizens of Uzbekistan account for the largest share of this group, with over 8,200 individuals, representing roughly 40% of the regional total. The statistics further list nationals from Tajikistan (5,308), Kazakhstan (3,819), Kyrgyzstan (2,219), and Turkmenistan (884). Project representatives allegedly noted that these figures exclude ethnic individuals originating from Central Asian states who have already acquired Russian citizenship. *

The initiative asserts that the recruitment of foreign nationals is carried out through three primary methods: financial incentives, deception, and coercion. Migrants are reportedly lured by promises of high compensation for construction or security jobs, or alternatively pressured through law enforcement raids targeting undocumented individuals, where signing a military contract is presented as an alternative to deportation or imprisonment.

Furthermore, the report highlights that hundreds of foreign nationals from various countries, including Central Asia, are currently held as prisoners of war in Ukraine. Survey results allegedly show that obtaining Russian citizenship or escaping criminal liability were the primary motivations cited by captive fighters, many of whom reportedly expressed fear of returning to their home countries due to domestic laws penalizing mercenary activities.

Source: www.gazeta.uz