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It's not just convicts. Russia is forcing its African migrants and students to fight for them in Ukraine. (www.businessinsider.com)

submitted 6 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/world@lemmy.world

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Russia is replenishing its troops with an unlikely source — African migrants and students.
Thousands of Africans have been forced to join in Russia's war against Ukraine, per Bloomberg.
The country has also been plugging its manpower gaps by sending prison inmates to the battlefield.

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[-] Treczoks@lemmy.world 56 points 6 months ago

He burns whatever he can to avoid touching people in Moscow or St.Petersburg, because that would hit back.

[-] ChicoSuave@lemmy.world 15 points 6 months ago

He gets away with it, which is why he's doing it. Once other countries close their borders to Russia, the blood fued to retake Crimea will become very real to Russians.

[-] TankovayaDiviziya@lemmy.world 6 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Not just that, Kremlin recruits people from poorer regions who desperately needs money so there is still plenty support. https://russiapost.info/regions/majority

[-] UltraMagnus0001@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

Just like Vietnam

[-] Varyk@sh.itjust.works 44 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Okay so they've used up half of their prisoners and are now forcing students into the military?

"In fact, Russia has recruited so many inmates that it has started to close down some of its prisons."

There's no way that they have this troops reserve number that is touted.

Putin's getting his ass kicked.

[-] Habahnow@sh.itjust.works 24 points 6 months ago

I'm hoping you're right. What I could imagine is that he just wants to burn through the prisoners since if they don't make it back, that's less prison costs. So even if he has reserve troops available, he'd rather use prisoners first.

[-] skulblaka@startrek.website 13 points 6 months ago

If that was his plan he should have sent them in first before he lost 470,000 registered soldiers. This is a desperation move, and if not that, then it is one of absolutely colossal foolishness. Neither is a good look for Putin.

[-] Aux@lemmy.world 4 points 6 months ago

Prisoners go to war for a limited time, then they get freedom. First waves of prisoners are home now and cause a lot of issues.

[-] TankovayaDiviziya@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

Yup, in a year or two this will piss off many Russians.

[-] Pringles@lemm.ee 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

I think the crisis moment for Ukraine has passed mostly. The threat of a breakthrough from a couple of months ago is not gone, but stalled long enough to shore up the defensive lines and have ammunition and supplies delivered from the west (and let's be honest here, that is still for 90% coming from the US). The strategy for Ukraine should now be to hold line and hit the supply lines.

The sanctions that were implemented take time to really bite and you start seeing the results of these more and more.

One thing I think Ukraine should do is start recruiting mercenaries from Nepal and other places where Russia is recruiting. Since they're not (or rather "probably would not") be thrown in the meat grinder, I think that after some time they can dry up those sources too, while at the same time addresing some of their own manpower issues.

[-] floofloof@lemmy.ca 37 points 6 months ago

Some African workers have even been threatened with deportation if they do not agree to fight in Ukraine, one European official told Bloomberg.

I wonder how many choose deportation as the least worst option, or whether they're really given the choice.

[-] Railcar8095@lemm.ee 24 points 6 months ago

Plot twist: they are deported to Ukraine.

[-] foggy@lemmy.world 22 points 6 months ago

Lmao. Students. Nice. That'll earn you support.

[-] Sam_Bass@lemmy.world 8 points 6 months ago

Despot despots. Wiping time moves apace

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this post was submitted on 10 Jun 2024

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