Ukraine Identifies 12,666 Central Asians Fighting for Russia in Conflict
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
The Ukrainian project 'I Want to Live' has identified 12,666 Central Asian citizens fighting for Russia in Ukraine. The majority, 4,853, are from Uzbekistan. This revelation comes amid ongoing tensions in the region.
Central Asian Fighters
The Ukrainian state project 'I Want to Live' has identified 12,666 Central Asian citizens who have signed contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense to fight in Ukraine. The data, shared on the Telegram channel 'Ukraine — Central Asia', covers five countries in the region. Uzbekistan leads with 4,853 individuals, followed by Tajikistan with 3,407, and Kazakhstan with 2,389.
Uzbekistan's Involvement
According to Gazeta.uz, the project reported 4,853 Uzbek citizens involved in the conflict, a significant increase from the 2,715 reported in October, which included 481 fatalities. This highlights a growing trend of recruitment from Uzbekistan, raising concerns over the region's stability and the impact on local communities.
What's Next
The Ukrainian government is expected to continue monitoring foreign involvement in the conflict. It remains unclear how Central Asian governments will respond to these findings.
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Ukraine Identifies 12,666 Central Asians Fighting for Russia in Conflict
