According to data from the Ukrainian state-run project "I Want to Live," the number of Central Asian citizens who have signed contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense and are participating in the war against Ukraine has reached 12,666 as of 2026. The project claims to possess personal data on these individuals, highlighting extensive information-gathering efforts amid the ongoing conflict.
The statistics reveal that Uzbekistan contributes the largest contingent, with 4,853 individuals allegedly serving as mercenaries. Tajikistan follows with 3,407 participants, Kazakhstan with 2,389, Kyrgyzstan with 1,439, and Turkmenistan with 578. These figures underscore the significant involvement of Central Asian nationals in combat operations on Russia's side, raising concerns about regional migration and labor exploitation in wartime contexts.
Previously, in spring and summer 2025, the project published named lists of 5,740 Central Asians involved in the war. The new data indicates a more than twofold increase in identified individuals over one year, suggesting a rapid expansion in foreign fighter recruitment and the deepening international dimensions of the conflict. This growth aligns with broader patterns of Russia's reliance on non-Russian personnel to sustain its military efforts.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has never disclosed official figures on the number of Central Asian citizens who have signed contracts and are fighting against Ukraine. This lack of transparency complicates independent verification of the "I Want to Live" project's claims and fuels skepticism about the true scale of foreign participation, while also pointing to potential challenges in Moscow's manpower strategy.
Background: The "I Want to Live" project was established in 2022 with the involvement of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense and Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR). It purportedly aims to provide Russian and other military personnel with a pathway to surrender voluntarily, guaranteeing treatment in accordance with international humanitarian law. However, the project also serves as a tool for informational warfare, exposing the complex geopolitical and human costs of the conflict, particularly for Central Asian states caught in the crossfire of great-power rivalry.
Source: kun.uz