Putin Offers Citizenship to Foreign Combatants in Ukraine

In a bid to bolster its military forces, Russia, having conscripted an additional 300,000 men in its largest mobilization since WWII, may consider another call-up after its March presidential election.

President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree granting Russian citizenship to foreign nationals who join Russia's military efforts in Ukraine.

Under this decree, foreigners enlisting for at least one year in what Russia terms its "special military operation" can secure Russian passports for themselves and their immediate family.

The decree covers enlistment in both regular and other military units, potentially including private groups like the Wagner mercenary organization. This strategy seems designed to attract foreign military veterans by offering them and their families citizenship benefits.

While Russia doesn’t disclose the number of its foreign fighters, reports suggest incentives such as hefty bonuses have attracted some, including Cubans and Africans, to its ranks.

The conflict has reportedly caused heavy losses for Russia, with estimates of 315,000 dead and wounded soldiers—almost 90% of its initial force—according to a declassified US intelligence report.

Although speculation over further Russian mobilization persists, the Kremlin insists it's unnecessary, citing the hundreds of thousands who have signed up as professional soldiers last year.

Losses on both sides of the nearly two-year conflict remain undisclosed, but Ukraine's President Zelenskiy mentioned a potential mobilization of up to 500,000 more troops, coinciding with the Ukrainian parliament's consideration of stricter mobilization legislation.