Russia actively recruits mercenaries in Iran — CPD

According to Ukrinform, the Center for Countering Disinformation (CPD) of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council stated this on its website.

The advertisements lead to a Telegram channel created in November 2025, where recruitment is conducted in several languages. A recruiter whom journalists spoke with stated outright that the campaign is coordinated by the Russian side on Iranian territory.

"Despite attempts by the Russian embassy in Iran to deny involvement, this is a typical element of Russia's systematic recruitment network, which for many years has sought mercenaries in poor and crisis-stricken countries," the Center noted.

Iran is one of the most vulnerable targets due to its economic situation, high unemployment, and the large number of Afghan refugees, who often become targets of such schemes. Recruitment in Iran is not an isolated episode but part of a broader Russian strategy to compensate for massive losses and prepare new offensive actions.

According to intelligence assessments, Russia has already recruited at least 18,000 foreigners from 128 countries, often through deception, coercion, or financial exploitation.

As Ukrinform previously reported, Russia is rolling out a large-scale mercenary recruitment campaign in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America, disguising it as "cooperation" with governments and security structures.

Photo: AA