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Irkutsk raises commission for recruiting foreign soldiers to 1.5 million rubles
The commission paid to intermediaries who recruit foreign nationals or stateless people into the Russian army in Siberia’s Irkutsk region has been raised to 1.5 million rubles. Amnesty International said Russia’s military recruitment processes involve deceptive, coercive and exploitative practices.
In Russia’s Irkutsk region in Siberia, the amount paid to intermediaries who recruit foreign nationals and stateless people into the army on a contract basis has been raised to 1.5 million rubles. The payment, which took effect under a directive signed by the regional governor on Thursday, is equivalent to approximately $17,800.
Previously, intermediaries in Irkutsk received 400,000 rubles for each contract, regardless of the candidate’s citizenship. The commission for recruiting foreigners and stateless people has therefore quadrupled in the past seven months.
Payment for Russian citizens set at 800,000 rubles
The directive defines foreign nationals and stateless candidates as a separate category from Russian citizens. The commission for intermediaries who recruit Russian citizens from other regions was set at 800,000 rubles.
The Irkutsk regulation comes as payments to intermediaries are being increased in various Russian regions to meet military recruitment targets. In Smolensk region, the commission rose from 115,000 rubles to 1 million rubles, while in Ryazan region it was raised to 805,000 rubles.
Figures on foreign fighters on Russia’s side
Ukraine allows foreign nationals to join its armed forces and fight alongside them. As of April 2026, more than 28,000 foreigners from 136 countries had been identified as fighting on Russia’s side; North Korean citizens were not included in this figure.
Amnesty International criticizes the practices
Amnesty International said deceptive, coercive and exploitative methods are frequently used in Russia’s military recruitment activities. Testimonies cited by the organization said that some people signed contracts without giving informed consent, had their passports confiscated, had their freedom of movement restricted and received inadequate training.
The organization said there were also accounts of people being threatened when they wanted to leave the military, and that these practices could fall within the scope of human trafficking.
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