The Ukrainian governmental initiative “I wish to stay” («Хочу жить») reported just lately that it has recognized 12,666 residents of Central Asia who’re combating, or have fought, on the Russian facet since Moscow’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Uzbeks make up the most important group from the area.
The numbers are considerably increased than these beforehand reported. Final 12 months, the identical initiative reported that 5,740 Central Asians had, or had been, combating on the facet of Russia as mercenaries. In Might 2025, it disclosed the names of 1,110 Uzbeks and in June, one other 902, whereas the names of 1,559 Tajik and 687 Kyrgyz had been listed in April and August of 2025.
Regardless of the irregularity of those updates, the development is apparent – increasingly Central Asians are combating for Russia.
The figures not solely exhibit Moscow’s rising reliance on international manpower 4 years into the warfare, in addition they level to a shift in recruitment of Central Asians: from early-war coercion and deception towards a extra normalized market of warfare labor.
Cash as a Pull Issue
Russia, for the previous few many years, has been a significant vacation spot for labor migrants from Central Asia for myriad causes, together with visa-free entry, the presence of an present Central Asian neighborhood, familiarity with the Russian language and tradition, and so forth. On the onset of the Ukraine warfare, many migrants (largely in detention or jail) had been reported to be pressured, compelled, or manipulated into signing contracts with Russia’s Ministry of Protection to spare themselves from lengthy imprisonment or deportation to their dwelling nations on account of expired work permits; to obtain Russian citizenship; or just to get employed into civilian jobs and earn good cash.
These practices haven’t disappeared. Nevertheless, current reviews from journalists and rights defenders recommend that cash and Russian citizenship at the moment are enjoying a central function, not outright stress. The participation of Central Asians within the warfare has turn into “enterprise as standard” – a normalized, transactional association. For a lot of, Russia’s warfare has turn into a brutal extension of the migrant labor financial system.
The Diplomat has beforehand reported that some Uzbek migrants joined the Russian military for financial incentives, amongst different causes. A current report from Azattyk Asia, a Central Asia-focused challenge of RFE/RL, confirmed the rising scale of the apply amongst Central Asians. In keeping with Azattyk Asia, many justify their determination with a necessity for cash, comparable to loans they must pay again at dwelling or the need to construct a home, however many typically cite receiving Russian citizenship as a compelling profit.
In keeping with the report, not solely are extra folks from Central Asia combating for Russia willingly, however they don’t seem to be morally involved, nor are they afraid of the implications of their actions, comparable to imprisonment at dwelling for collaborating in armed conflicts on behalf of a international state. Recruits consider nothing will occur to them or even when they find yourself in jail, “Russia will get them out.”
Understanding the dilemma labor migrants face in Russia – jail or poverty versus fast cash — and the truth of their nations’ dependence on remittances despatched by migrants, the nations of Central Asia don’t push for strict punishment for individuals who be a part of the Russian military. Regional governments have warned their residents in opposition to it, issuing statements reminding them that it’s unlawful. Central Asian authorities have additionally been serving to those that search to flee the warzone to return dwelling. However those that have confronted authorized penalties have been punished frivolously relative to the potential underneath the present legal guidelines. One other clarification could possibly be the need to keep away from frightening Russia, as might occur if regional governments took a extra confrontational stance.
Recognizing the sophisticated nature of the circumstances, Kazakh politician Zharkynbek Amantayuly – a member of the decrease home of the Kazakh parliament – just lately instructed softening the punishment for individuals who take part in armed conflicts on behalf of different nations. In keeping with Amantayuly, if the recruits will not be a part of a terrorist group or don’t commit warfare crimes, they need to be eligible for lighter punishment as a result of “nobody goes to an armed battle zone with out a purpose.”
Within the first years of the warfare, only some dozen circumstances had been opened yearly in opposition to Kazakh nationals by Kazakh regulation enforcement on the bottom of combating in a international battle. Nevertheless, in 2025, after the identities of a whole bunch of Kazakh recruits had been made public, the variety of circumstances rose sharply to round 700.
With 1000’s of its residents within the warfare, Tashkent has additionally been punishing returnees at dwelling, however with gentle sentences and judgements referring to “mitigating circumstances,” as reported by the Diplomat final 12 months. In 2026 alone, native newspapers reported dozens of circumstances the place returnees obtained comparatively quick phrases: a 24 12 months previous from Navaiy sentenced to 4 years, a 20 12 months previous from Tashkent went to jail for 5 years and so forth. The vast majority of the reported circumstances from Uzbekistan point out three years of imprisonment (see for instance these 5 circumstances – 1; 2; 3; 4; 5 – all reported in 2026). Courts in Tashkent are additionally punishing the previous recruits with dwelling arrest of a couple of years and even by correctional labor, quite than jail phrases.
The frequent sample, nevertheless, stays the identical – recruits signal a contract both underneath stress or are lured by cash, take part within the warfare for a brief interval, get injured or understand the horrors of the warfare, and escape to Moscow, the place the Uzbek Embassy organizes their return.
At the same time as voluntary recruitment grows, coercive recruitment persists among the many most susceptible: prisoners, undocumented migrants, and ladies. In January 2026, Azattyk Asia reported that ladies labor migrants had been additionally allegedly being despatched to the warfare. Whereas earlier within the warfare, ladies prisoners had been made to stitch mattresses and jackets for troopers, now they’re reportedly being “supplied” jobs within the warfare zone as nurses, cooks, and launderers.
“Beforehand, our group obtained solely reviews concerning the recruitment of males from Uzbekistan. Now we’re receiving complaints that Uzbek ladies in Russian prisons are more and more being recruited to participate within the warfare in opposition to Ukraine,” Abdurakhmon Tashanov, chair of the Tashkent-based human rights society Ezgulik, instructed Azattyk Asia . “Most of them are ladies who labored as couriers or had been engaged in different casual or low-paid work. In keeping with the knowledge we now have obtained, lots of them are imprisoned after being arrange, with medicine planted on them.”
All of the whereas, Moscow continues treating international recruits, together with these from Central Asia, as expendable. They don’t seem to be built-in into elite or protected roles nor are they supplied with correct coaching. Reportedly no less than 18,000 folks from 128 nations fought or are combating for Russia and over 3,000 have died. The precise variety of Central Asians killed within the warfare is unknown. Thus far round 200 Kazakh nationals are estimated to have been killed. Final 12 months, “I wish to stay” confirmed the deaths of 109 Uzbeks, 196 Tajiks, 38 Kyrgyz, and 27 Turkmen. Given the current numbers of virtually 13,000 recruits from Central Asia, fatalities amongst them are doubtless far higher than is presently recognized.
This analysis was supported by a Marie Curie Employees Alternate throughout the Horizon Europe Programme (CARSI, no: 101086415)
