‘All a lie’: Yemeni recruits tricked into Russian army – reports
Russia has been bolstering its troops on the frontline with the help of “human trafficking” from a Middle Eastern militant group.
Russia has recruited more foreign troops to aid in its war against Ukraine, this time reportedly thanks to a human trafficking operation led by Yemeni rebel group the Houthis.
Hundreds of Yemenis travelled to Russia at the promise of high-paid work only to be forced into the country’s military, The Financial Times reports.
They have been sent to the front lines in Ukraine, joining mercenaries from Nepal, India and 12,000 North Korean troops sent by Vladimir Putin’s ally in Pyongyang.
Contracts signed by the Yemenis list a company founded by prominent Houthi politician Abdulwali Abdo Hassan al-Jabri, according to the FT, suggesting direct ties between Russian and the Iran-backed militant group.
The US special envoy to Yemen, Tim Lenderking told the publication Russia was discussing arms deals with the Houthis which “would enable the Houthis to better target ships in the Red Sea and possibly beyond”.
One man from Yemen, Nabil, said he travelled to Russia was promised work in security and engineering before being asked to sign a contract he could not read.
He was soon inducted into the Russian army and deployed to a Ukrainian forest: “We are under bombardment. Mines, drones, digging bunkers,” he told FT.
Another man, codenamed Abdullah, told the publication he was offered bonuses and Russian citizenship if he moved to work in drone manufacturing.
The man claimed to have been forcibly taken from Moscow airport before being intimidated into signing the contract by a man who fired a pistol over their heads.
“I signed it because I was scared,” he said, going on to label his recruiters “scammers who traffic in human beings”.
“It was all a lie.”
The Houthis are considered a proxy of the Iran government, which is a strategic ally of an increasingly isolated Russia.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a recent statement that 500 Iranian made drones had been launched into his territory in the past week.
“Ukraine is not a testing ground for weapons,” he said.
“Ukraine is a sovereign and independent state. But Russia still continues its efforts to kill our people, spread fear and panic, and weaken us.”
The almost three-year conflict between Russia and Ukraine appears to be teetering on the precipice of a catastrophic escalation – or a truncated end – depending on the viewpoint.
Joe Biden and his administration’s decision to give Ukraine long-range American missiles has caused consternation from Russia and some commentators who believe it could provoke Russia into wider-reaching aggression.
Supporters of incoming US president Donald Trump have accused the White House of sabotaging his plans to end the war in Ukraine, which he had boasted of doing in “24 hours”.
Ukrainian boxing legend Wladimir Klitschko this week charged podcaster Joe Rogan of “repeating Russian propaganda” by claiming Mr Biden’s decision “could potentialy start World War III”.
“A great America is not an America that abandons countries that defend freedom with their lives,” the former world heavyweight champion said.
Russian authorities said eight missiles fired by Ukraine were intercepted overnight, while Russian aerial attacks wounded more than 30 in strikes on Odessa and Kharkiv.
Ukraine fired US-made ATACMS ballistic missiles into Russia for the first time last week after receiving approval from Washington, prompting a furious reaction from Moscow.
“Air defence forces shot down eight ballistic missiles,” the Russian defence ministry said on Monday, without saying what kind of missiles were used or where they were shot down.
Moscow fired an experimental hypersonic missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro last Thursday.
Mr Putin warned the weapon, which he called Oreshnik, could be used again in “combat conditions” adding Russia “had the right” to use it against Ukraine’s allies.
It is believed Oreshnik is a nuclear-capable rocket which could reach any nation in Europe.
– with AFP.
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