Russia recruits citizens of neighboring countries to avoid another "unpopular" mobilization, according to the United Kingdom

MADRID, 3 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Russian authorities have encouraged the hiring of citizens from neighboring countries to fight in Ukraine, according to British Intelligence, which attributes these efforts to the desire to avoid the political effects of an eventual -- and "unpopular" -- internal mobilization.

"Russia probably wants to avoid unpopular mobilization measures with a view to the 2024 presidential elections," reads the latest report by British experts, shared by the Ministry of Defense.

To this end, the Russian authorities have spread Internet advertisements in Armenia and Kazakhstan offering 495,000 rubles (about 4,800 euros) as a down payment and a salary of 190,000 rubles (more than 1,800 euros). In the case of Kazakhstan, there have been specific recruitment efforts in the Kostanai region, with appeals to the ethnic Russian population.

In addition, at least since last May, Russia has groped migrants of Asian origin to whom it offers to join the troops in Ukraine in exchange for obtaining citizenship and salaries that can reach 4,160 dollars (more than 3,800 euros). .

British Intelligence has also pointed out that in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, occupied by Russian troops, Uzbek migrants, mainly dedicated to construction, saw their passports confiscated as a measure of pressure to join the fighting.

In Russia alone, there are at least 6 million migrants from Central Asia whom the Kremlin sees as "potential recruits", UK authorities have said.