What happened
Russia has been recruiting US citizens to fight in the war against Ukraine, with at least 18 Americans reportedly joining the Russian military. These recruits are often targeted through social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, and Telegram, with agents earning $24,000 per recruit plus a cut of their salary.
According to reports, US recruits are typically paid a $26,000 signing bonus and $2,000 per month. However, many of these recruits have been killed in action, with their deaths not creating a significant negative reaction in Russian society. In some cases, the families of killed foreign recruits do not receive the compensation they are supposed to receive.
Examples of US citizens who have joined the Russian military include Seth William Baker, a 23-year-old former Marine who was killed on the frontlines, and Wilmer Puello-Mota, a 30-year-old former US Air Force veteran who is still fighting for Russia despite being injured in an explosion. Another example is Michael Gloss, the 21-year-old son of a high-ranking CIA official who was killed in the war in April 2024.
Foreign mercenaries have reported suffering physical and racist abuse at the hands of Russian soldiers, and some have been forced to go on deadly missions or contribute money to their unit's fund. The Russian military has suffered significant casualties, with estimates suggesting 1.5 million casualties, including 500,000 deaths, since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
