Russian enlistment efforts expand globally, reach prisons and beyond

• Russian emissaries are searching for volunteers to fight in Ukraine worldwide.
• Recruitment efforts include Russian prisons.
• Many recruits die before receiving their first paycheck.

Lieutenant Colonel in Reserve Vladyslav Seleznov reveals that Russia is intensively searching for volunteers to fight in Ukraine. Russian emissaries are operating globally, trying to recruit individuals willing to fight. These efforts also extend to recruitment in Russian prisons.

Vladyslav Seleznov emphasises that there is significant interest in signing contracts to fight in occupied Crimea. Many individuals sign up for service but often do not survive long enough to receive their first paycheck, serving as "cannon fodder."

- Russian emissaries are literally scouring every country in the world for those willing to earn money by killing Ukrainians - said Lieutenant Colonel in Reserve of the Ukrainian Navy Vladyslav Seleznov in an interview with Ukrainian Radio.

Vladyslav Seleznov highlights the presence of Chinese mercenaries in the Russian armed forces. The Ukrainian military captured two Chinese citizens fighting on Russia's side. The Chinese claim they were recruited by intermediaries and had no contact with Chinese authorities.

President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, declared that Ukrainian intelligence has information about Chinese soldiers fighting on Russia's side. However, Beijing has not condemned Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine, and China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson described these reports as "irresponsible."

Over the past years, Russia and China have strengthened their economic, military, and political relations. Nevertheless, the presence of Chinese mercenaries in the Russian army raises controversies and questions about the future of these relations.