Russia has misled and recruited hundreds of Yemeni Houthis to fight against Ukraine

Russia has recruited hundreds of Yemeni men for its war of aggression against Ukraine, promising them high-paying jobs and even Russian citizenship.

Here's What We Know

A company associated with the Houthis promised high-paying jobs and Russian citizenship in Russia. When the Yemenis arrived in Russia, they were forced to sign contracts with the Ministry of Defence and sent to the frontline.

Some of them later managed to return home. One man said that he was promised a one-time payment of $10,000 and a monthly salary of $2,000 for working at a UAV factory. In the end, he says, he was brought to war by "human traffickers". The Financial Times writes that, judging by the scheme, Russia is getting closer not only to Iran, but also to the rebels in the Middle East, who are supported by Tehran.

The emergence of a group of Yemeni mercenaries - mostly forced - in Ukraine shows how the Russians are increasingly pulling in soldiers from abroad as losses mount and the Kremlin tries to avoid full mobilisation. To clarify, among mercenaries from Nepal and India, there are about 12,000 North Korean regular army soldiers on the frontline today, who have arrived to fight against Ukrainian troops.

American diplomats say the agreement between the Kremlin and the Houthis, which was unimaginable before the war in Ukraine, is a sign of how far Russia is willing to go to spread the conflict to new theatres, including the Middle East.

Source: FT