Russia Enlists Yemeni Citizens for War in Ukraine, Ukraine Intel Says

Ukrainian intelligence has revealed that Russia has enlisted a group of 27 Yemeni nationals for combat operations against Ukraine, according to a September 19 report. The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine (SZRU) stated that Russian military bodies are actively involved in processing these recruits, suggesting a systematic recruitment process.

The head of the military contract selection center in Khanty-Mansiysk, Lieutenant Pervushin, had submitted a request in July 2026 for expedited legal status for the Yemeni citizens. Once they obtained legal residency, Russian defense authorities prepared standard military service contracts for their enlistment. The recruits include individuals born in 2006 and 2007.

The recruitment mechanism involves granting legal status under simplified migration rules, followed by contractual enlistment through regional military recruitment centers. This approach reflects the Russian defense establishment's efforts to replenish frontline personnel without declaring a nationwide mobilization. The SZRU's findings align with previous disclosures about Russian recruitment of Yemeni citizens, including a Financial Times report from late 2024.

These reports revealed that hundreds of Yemeni nationals were recruited through commercial entities linked to the Houthi movement in Yemen. Recruits were initially promised high-paying jobs but were later forcibly transferred to military bases and compelled to sign Russian-language enlistment contracts under threat. Economic hardship in Yemen has reportedly facilitated these recruitment efforts.

This recruitment aligns with growing coordination between Russia and Iran-backed regional groups, including high-level discussions about potential transfers of Russian defense hardware to Houthi forces.