A joint statistical study by the BBC Russian Service and the publication Meduza has presented shocking data on human losses among foreign citizens who participated in hostilities on the side of Russia. As of July 2026, the deaths of at least 3,589 individuals have been verified. This data was compiled based on open registries, official notifications from diplomatic bodies, and photographic documentation of burials.

According to estimates by NATO specialized structures, the total number of foreign contingents recruited by Russia over the entire period of the conflict reached 24,000 people from 44 countries. However, as statistics show, the price of participation in hostilities proved to be excessively high for many of them.

The North Korean Factor: Large-Scale Identification of Losses

Analysts distinguish two fundamentally different groups of the deceased in the general list. The first category includes 1,285 people — nationals from more than 40 countries, including CIS states (Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan), as well as Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Cuba, Somalia, and Yemen. Their identities were confirmed using standard obituary monitoring methods.

The second, most numerous group, consists of military personnel from North Korea — 2,304 confirmed fatal cases. Identification of this group became possible thanks to a unique source of information: the "Memorial Complex and Museum of Feats of Heroes of the Foreign Military Operation," opened by Kim Jong Un on April 26, 2026.

The memorial in Pyongyang is dedicated to North Korean units deployed in the Kursk region at the end of 2025 and early 2026. Western and South Korean intelligence services estimate the total losses of the North Korean contingent, including the wounded and missing, at 6,000 people.

Evolution of Recruitment: From Pardon to Coercion

Analysis shows that methods for recruiting foreign citizens have undergone significant changes over the years of the conflict. Experts identify three key stages:

  • 2022–2023: Recruitment of citizens from Central Asian countries who were in Russian correctional facilities. Recruitment was carried out by the PMC "Wagner" structures and Ministry of Defense units ("Storm-Z") in exchange for pardons and annulment of criminal records.
  • 2024 — mid-2025: Systematic hiring of citizens from distant foreign countries (Nepal, Cuba, India). The main motivation was the offer of long-term contracts with high salaries. At the same time, specialized agencies in India and Nepal recorded cases of agencies misleading applicants by promising work in construction or logistics.
  • From mid-2025: Administrative and legal pressure. As part of the 2025–2026 migration legislation reform, authorities intensified checks on migrants. Signing a contract was often offered as an alternative to deportation or criminal prosecution for violating the stay regime.

Legal Status and Humanitarian Norms

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine regularly inform international institutions about the capture of foreign mercenaries. A key aspect here is the legal status of these individuals. According to Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, mercenaries do not have the right to prisoner-of-war status.

However, norms of International Humanitarian Law, in particular Article 47 of the same Protocol, do not leave such people without protection. A person recognized as a mercenary loses combatant status, but basic guarantees of humane treatment in accordance with Article 75 of the Protocol must be observed regarding them. This means that even in the absence of prisoner-of-war status, fundamental standards of treatment must be applied to detainees.