The Sri Lankan government is sending a delegation to Russia to identify and repatriate its citizens who have been fighting on behalf of Russia in Ukraine. Social media campaigns targeting ex-military personnel in Sri Lanka have promised lucrative salaries and Russian citizenship to fight in the war. The Defense Ministry of Sri Lanka has warned its citizens not to fall for these schemes, as online agents are arranging flights and documentation to bring them to Russia. The country’s struggling economy, worsened by the effects of the pandemic, has led to an increase in migration from Sri Lanka. An investigation is underway into reports of Sri Lankan nationals with military backgrounds being trafficked to fight in Ukraine, with at least 16 confirmed deaths so far.
Russia has been recruiting foreigners from countries like Nepal, Somalia, India, and Cuba to fight in Ukraine since the beginning of the invasion. Mercenaries, according to the Geneva Conventions, do not have the right to be combatants or prisoners at war, and engaging in mercenary activities is considered a crime. Nepal has halted issuing foreign work permits for its citizens to work in Russia after reports of Nepalese mercenaries being killed in Ukraine. India has identified a major human trafficking network luring Indians to fight for Russia in Ukraine, with reports of Indian men being coerced into joining the war after arriving in Russia for work or tourism.
The Sri Lankan government has received over 288 complaints from families of nationals who have reportedly left the country to fight in Ukraine. Authorities have arrested seven individuals, including a retired general, in connection with the human trafficking scheme. The State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka mentioned that there are approximately 600-800 Sri Lankan individuals in Russia, with ongoing efforts to determine the exact number. The use of online campaigns to recruit soldiers from economically vulnerable countries like Sri Lanka highlights the exploitation of individuals in dire financial situations for military purposes.
The involvement of foreign mercenaries in the conflict in Ukraine is a concerning development that goes against international humanitarian laws. Nepal has taken steps to prevent its citizens from being exploited as mercenaries, halting the issuance of work permits for Russia. India has also identified a human trafficking network targeting Indian men to join the fighting in Ukraine after arriving in Russia. The intersection of poverty, military conflicts, and exploitation of vulnerable populations underscores the need for international cooperation to prevent the recruitment and use of foreign mercenaries in armed conflicts.
The impact of the war in Ukraine goes beyond the Ukrainian and Russian borders, with countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal, and India being affected by the recruitment of their nationals as foreign mercenaries. The investigation into the trafficking of Sri Lankan nationals to fight in Ukraine highlights the need for stricter measures to prevent such practices. The involvement of individuals from economically vulnerable countries in armed conflicts raises ethical and legal concerns regarding the rights of mercenaries and the exploitation of individuals for military purposes. International cooperation and adherence to international humanitarian laws are essential in addressing and preventing the recruitment and use of foreign mercenaries in conflicts like the one in Ukraine.
