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Russia's War in Ukraine

Over 12,600 Central Asians Identified in Russian Army

A Ukrainian state initiative has identified nearly 13,000 citizens from Central Asia who have signed contracts with Russia’s Defense Ministry and have served or are serving in the Russian army, according to data released by the “I Want to Live” project as part of the Ukraine-Central Asia Inquiry. As of 2026, the project reports it holds personal data on 12,666 individuals from the region. Uzbekistan accounts for the largest share, with 4,853 identified citizens. Tajikistan ranks second with 3,407 individuals, followed by Kazakhstan with 2,389 and Kyrgyzstan with at least 1,439. Turkmenistan has the lowest figure, with 578 identified nationals. The figures represent a sharp increase compared to 2025, when the same project reported around 5,740 individuals from Central Asia. At that time, it also began publishing named lists of recruits from each country who had joined Russia’s war in Ukraine. The issue remains sensitive across the region. Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan prohibit their citizens from taking part in foreign conflicts, and several cases have been brought against individuals who returned after fighting abroad. Last year, speaking at the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum, Alexander Bastrykin, Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia, said authorities had identified 80,000 individuals who had avoided military registration. “We’ve registered them for military service, and about 20,000 of these ‘new’ Russian citizens, who for some reason no longer want to live in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, or Kyrgyzstan, are now on the front lines,” he said at the time. His remarks highlighted ongoing efforts to replenish military ranks, including through contract-based recruitment and incentives. Observers say such measures, alongside migration trends, may help explain the rising number of Central Asian nationals identified in the conflict.

Armed Forces

Turkmenistan’s Army Facing a Growing Exodus of Personnel

Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Defense is attempting to halt mass resignations among officers. Military personnel who have left their units without permission are being offered the opportunity to return to service on the condition that they are transferred to their home region. However, this measure has so far produced little effect and does not address the army’s core problems. Turkmenistan’s Minister of Defense, Begench Gundogdyyev, has sought to revise the government’s approach to the personnel crisis in the armed forces. At a meeting with unit commanders reviewing the results of the first two months of 2026, he addressed the issue of widespread officer resignations. Several commanders reportedly asked him to approve discharge requests for subordinates who had not reported to their units for an extended period. According to a source cited by turkmen.news, the minister reacted sharply and stated that he would not sign any such documents. “Lock them up in the armoury if you must, but don’t let them leave the army,” the source quoted him as saying. A few days after the meeting, some officers reportedly received phone calls from the Ministry of Defense offering them the chance to return to duty. In exchange, they were promised transfers to their home region. Such a practice had not existed previously. Since Soviet times, military personnel were typically assigned to serve in regions other than their own so that, in the event of unrest, they would defend state authority rather than side with local populations. Now, an exception has been made for those seeking discharge after leaving their units without permission, in some cases for more than a year. However, according to sources, almost no one has accepted the offer, and the number of officers wishing to leave the army continues to grow. Officers cite housing as the main problem. Two years ago, a ministerial order abolished the option to privatize service housing, which had previously been available based on length of service. Following this decision, the outflow of personnel reportedly intensified. About a year ago, the Ministry of Defense proposed that officers purchase newly built apartments with their own funds, requiring them to cover 100% of the cost while also prohibiting subsequent resale. Many officers view these conditions as unreasonable. According to them, several years of work abroad, for example in Russia, make it possible to save enough money to buy a home, a car, and secure their children’s future. Military personnel also report insufficient pay, hazing, and corruption affecting not only conscripts but officers as well. As a result, some officers who are unable to formally resign reportedly remain in service until retirement age. Sources claim that morale and discipline in the armed forces have deteriorated to such an extent that any conflict with commanders can prompt an officer to submit a resignation request and stop reporting for duty. The problems facing Turkmenistan’s armed forces come amid broader regional tensions. On February 27, Pakistan’s defense minister, Khawaja Asif, announced what he described as the start of an “open war”...

Russian-Ukrainian war

Uzbek Man Forced into Russian Army Pleads for Help to Return Home from Ukraine

A 31-year-old Uzbek citizen from Bukhara, Zukhriddin Yuldoshev, who was forcibly recruited into the Russian army, surrendered to Ukrainian forces almost immediately after arriving at the front. His case, reported by Nexta Live and other media outlets, highlights the growing number of Central Asian nationals being coerced into Russia’s war against Ukraine. According to Yuldoshev, Russian police planted narcotics on him and threatened him with a prison sentence of 12 to 18 years unless he signed a military contract. “I was given two choices: prison or the front,” he said. After arriving at the battlefield, he was quickly detected by a Ukrainian drone and surrendered without resistance. Yuldoshev described dire conditions within the Russian military, saying he had to purchase his own communication equipment and gear. He also spoke of widespread disarray and deception among Russian troops. “There were so many dead bodies that there was nowhere to step,” he recalled. He says he has no intention of returning to Russia and is appealing to the Uzbek government for assistance in returning home. In a June report, Ukraine’s military intelligence stated that citizens of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and other Central Asian countries are increasingly being coerced or misled into joining the Russian war effort. Many had initially traveled to Russia as labor migrants and were later pressured into signing military contracts, often with promises of fast cash. Ukrainian officials say many of these recruits are deployed to the most dangerous sections of the front and face high casualty rates. The forced conscription of migrants has drawn increasing criticism from human rights groups, who argue the practice violates international law. Yuldoshev’s plea for repatriation places added pressure on the Uzbek government to act on behalf of its citizens caught up in Russia’s war.

Ukraine

Zelensky Steps Up Claims of Uzbek and Tajik Citizens Fighting for Russia in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that citizens of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are among foreign fighters serving in the Russian army in Ukraine. The statement was made on August 4 via his official Telegram channel, following a visit to the 17th Separate Motorized Infantry Battalion in the northern city of Vovchansk, Kharkiv region. “Today I was alongside those defending our country on the Vovchansk front the soldiers of the 17th Separate Motorized Infantry Battalion of the 57th Brigade named after Kostiantyn Hordiienko,” Zelensky wrote. “We spoke with commanders about the situation on the front line, the defense of Vovchansk, and the dynamics of the fighting. Soldiers on this front are recording the participation of mercenaries from China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and several African countries. We will respond.” During the visit, Zelensky also discussed issues related to drone supplies, recruitment, and direct funding for brigades. He awarded service medals to Ukrainian troops and stated: “It is an honor for me to be here. Thank you for fighting, serving your state, the Ukrainian people, and supporting one another.” However, independent verification of these claims is limited. In some cases, reports suggest a different dynamic: in May, Alexander Bastrykin, head of Russia’s Investigative Committee, stated that authorities had “tracked down 80,000” newly naturalized Russian citizens, many originally from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, who had tried to evade military service. Around 20,000 were reportedly sent to the front lines. These figures, while not independently verified, suggest that conscription, rather than voluntary enlistment or mercenary recruitment, may account for much of Central Asian involvement. The war continues to have a profound economic impact. Ukraine’s industrial production index dropped from 101.7% in December 2021 to 69.3% by December 2024. Trade between Ukraine and Central Asia has also declined sharply. Kazakhstan’s trade turnover with Ukraine fell from $5.5 billion in 2012 to just $391 million in 2023. Once Ukraine’s 15th-largest trading partner in 2021, Kazakhstan ranked 35th by the end of 2023.

Russian-Ukrainian war

Uzbek Migrants Coerced to Fight in Russia’s War

Russia has recruited at least 902 citizens of Uzbekistan to fight in its war against Ukraine since the beginning of 2025, including individuals as young as 19, according to the “I Want to Live” (Хочу жить) project, which cited sources within the Russian armed forces. Despite heightened scrutiny in Uzbekistan following earlier reports of its nationals joining the conflict, recruitment efforts have continued to expand. “These are people who no longer belong to themselves,” the project stated, adding that the recruitment methods remain largely unchanged. The group reported that Uzbek labor migrants arriving in Russia are often lured by promises of lucrative employment, typically in construction or rear-echelon military units. A key incentive remains the promise of expedited Russian citizenship. Meanwhile, Uzbek nationals serving prison terms in Russia are reportedly pressured into enlisting through threats and psychological coercion. The project also highlighted the use of blackmail, especially targeting migrants who recently obtained Russian citizenship. Alexander Bastrykin, head of Russia’s Investigative Committee, recently acknowledged that more than 5,000 raids had been carried out, during which 90,000 people were "caught", a term he used himself. Of those, 30,000 signed contracts and were sent to the front lines, reflecting the coercive nature of the campaign. The report added that prisoners of war from 33 countries are currently held in Ukraine, with Uzbekistan reportedly having the highest number of foreign nationals among them. Separately, on June 5, 2025, a delegation from Uzbekistan’s Defense Ministry, led by Deputy Minister Colonel Alisher Narbaev, visited the “Postoyalye Dvory” military training ground in Russia’s Kursk region. The visit has raised questions amid ongoing concerns about the recruitment of Uzbek citizens into Russia’s war effort. “Every signed contract is a one-way ticket,” the “I Want to Live” project warned, urging the Uzbek government to take a stronger stance in protecting its citizens from being drawn into the conflict. Earlier this year, The Times of Central Asia reported that Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Service accused Russia of coercing Central Asian citizens, particularly labor migrants from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, into military service. Many of those recruited under the guise of volunteering are sent directly to high-risk front-line positions, where survival chances are slim.

War in Ukraine

At Least 66 Uzbeks Confirmed Dead Fighting for Russia in Ukraine

A BBC-led investigation has confirmed that dozens of Uzbek citizens have died while fighting for Russia in Ukraine. Journalists from the BBC Russian Service and independent outlet Mediazona have verified 118,139 Russian military deaths in the conflict. Among them were 523 foreign nationals from 28 countries, with Tajiks (72 deaths) and Uzbeks (66 deaths) making up the largest foreign contingents. Investigators caution that the true number of casualties is likely higher. Alexander Bastrykin, head of Russia’s Investigative Committee, has publicly acknowledged that many recently naturalized Central Asians have been conscripted into the Russian military. Speaking at a public forum, Bastrykin stated that authorities had “caught” around 80,000 new Russian citizens, mostly from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, who had attempted to avoid military service. According to him, they were registered for service, and 20,000 were subsequently sent to Ukraine. These remarks have raised fresh concerns that Russia is using Central Asian migrants to bolster its military ranks. Official Neutrality and Subtle Retaliation Central Asian governments have declared neutrality in the Ukraine conflict and have largely abided by Western sanctions. Both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine, contributing approximately $2.25 million and $1 million respectively. Kazakhstan has also made it clear that it does not recognize the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk “people’s republics.” Some analysts believe this neutral stance has triggered retaliatory actions from Moscow. Notably, a Russian court ordered the temporary suspension of operations at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), a key route for Kazakh oil exports to the Black Sea. The 30-day halt severely affected Kazakhstan’s economy, as CPC shipments account for roughly 20% of the country's GDP.