It has been reported that every tenth Russian soldier captured in Ukraine is a foreigner

It was reported that every tenth Russian serviceman captured in Ukraine is a foreign citizen.

Nearly 10 percent of the Russian servicemen captured in Ukraine are citizens of third countries.

According to the project's data, as of September 2026, there are citizens of 55 countries who fought on the Russian side in Ukrainian captivity.

The organizers of "I Want to Live" stated that they have the names of nearly 29,000 foreigners who have signed contracts with the Russian Armed Forces since 2022. It is noted that the number of foreigners captured in Ukraine in the first nine months of this year is higher than the number of prisoners in the entirety of 2025.

Among them are citizens of Asian countries, Argentina, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Honduras, and other nations.

The project's statement says that following diplomatic pressure, protests, and opposition from the governments of several countries, Russia has stopped military recruitment in 39 countries. In particular, these include China, India, Egypt, Kenya, Pakistan, Ghana, and some other countries in Africa and Asia.

"However, Moscow has shifted to a different direction and is increasing the scale of recruitment in South American, Central Asian, and African countries. This can be seen not only from our data but also from the number and geography of foreign prisoners of war," the project's report says.

The publication also claimed that some are being lured to the front through deception, having been promised jobs in the civilian sector.