The capture of an Indian national allegedly fighting for Russia has once again highlighted how the war in Ukraine has become a global battlefield — drawing in not just armies, but individuals from across continents.Ukrainian forces this week claimed to have detained 22-year-old Majoti Sahil Mohammed, an Indian citizen from Gujarat, who said he joined the Russian army after being promised freedom and good pay. His case mirrors those of several Indians who were duped by recruitment agents into enlisting as “helpers” or “security workers” in Russia, only to find themselves deployed on the frontlines. India has already confirmed that at least 27 of its citizens are serving with Russian units, and several have died in combat.
A global war of volunteers and mercenaries
While the Indian case has drawn attention in the subcontinent, the phenomenon is global. From Cuban recruits flown in through alleged labour contracts to Nepali ex-soldiers drawn by promises of high wages, Russia has tapped into networks of desperation and deception. Nepal’s government recently confirmed that at least 14 of its citizens have been killed while fighting for Russia, many trafficked through Dubai or Moscow by middlemen. In September 2023, Cuba arrested 17 people for recruiting its citizens for the Russian army, exposing an organised smuggling route.Ukraine, too, has its own foreign ranks — but through a more formal channel. Within days of the 2022 invasion, Kyiv announced the creation of the International Legion for the Defence of Ukraine, welcoming volunteers from allied nations. Thousands of foreigners — from the US, UK, Poland, Georgia, and Belarus — joined, often motivated by ideology, outrage, or prior military experience. Units like the Georgian Legion, Belarusian Kastus Kalinouski Regiment, and Sheikh Mansur Battalion of Chechen fighters have become symbols of resistance against Moscow’s aggression.
From freedom fighters to hired guns
The line between volunteer and mercenary has blurred. For Ukraine, foreign fighters are valorised as defenders of democracy. For Russia, they are war criminals. Moscow, on the other hand, has relied heavily on private military companies like the Wagner Group, which at its peak recruited tens of thousands from prisons, as well as men from Syria, Libya, and across Africa. After Wagner’s collapse, its remnants were absorbed into the Russian Defence Ministry, with recruitment continuing under new banners.
The legal and moral grey zone
Under international law, mercenaries are not recognised as lawful combatants. They risk losing prisoner-of-war protection and face prosecution if captured. Yet, for many, economic desperation overrides legality. Some seek citizenship or cash; others, ideological glory. For host nations, these volunteers are both an asset and a liability — a propaganda tool in life, a diplomatic problem in death.
The bigger picture
Today, fighters from over 40 countries are believed to be involved in some form on either side of the conflict. For Ukraine, they represent solidarity; for Russia, manpower. But for those caught in between — like the young Indian in Ukrainian custody — they are the war’s most tragic outsiders: lured by promise, trapped by geopolitics, and forgotten when the guns fall silent.