Deceived And Deployed: How Hundreds Of Sri Lankans Were TRICKED Into Fighting Russia's War

By Lisa Pelgin | Thursday, 16 May 2024 12:00 PM
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Deceived And Deployed: How Hundreds Of Sri Lankans Were TRICKED Into Fighting Russia's War
Image Credit : The Statesman [Photographer's Name]

In an alarming revelation, Sri Lankan officials have reported the recruitment of hundreds of their citizens into the Russian military, many of whom were deceived into joining the ongoing conflict against Ukraine.

The announcement was made on Monday, with a member of the Sri Lankan parliament stating that the majority of the recruits were enticed into the Russian army with lucrative salary offers and assurances of non-combat roles.

Public Security Minister Tiran Alles, quoted by Agence France-Presse, stated, "We have received complaints from approximately 280" relatives of those recruited. It is believed that some of these 280 Sri Lankan citizens have joined the Ukrainian military, but according to lawmaker Gamini Waleboda, the majority were enlisted on the Russian side.

In response to this development, the Sri Lankan defense ministry has established a special unit to gather information about its citizens involved in the conflict. Additionally, two retired army officers have been apprehended by the police for allegedly channeling recruits to Russian mercenary groups.

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This situation places Sri Lanka alongside India and Nepal, which have also fallen victim to what seems to be an intricate recruitment scheme by the Russian military. The strategy appears to target citizens of less affluent countries, enticing them to fight on behalf of the Kremlin.

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Earlier this month, Indian investigators reported the arrest of four Indian citizens accused of trafficking unsuspecting young people to Russia for deployment in the war "against their wishes." The Central Bureau of Investigation revealed that an organized network of traffickers used social media to "lure" victims with promises of "highly paid jobs in Russia," which turned out to be frontline combat roles in Ukraine.

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While the exact number of victims claimed by this trafficking network remains unclear, investigators have reported that some have been "grievously injured" as a result of the scheme.

Similarly, thousands of Nepali men have been recruited into Russia's ranks, lured by promises of high pay and an easy route to Europe, as per numerous reports. Despite the Nepali government's ban on its citizens traveling to Russia or Ukraine for work since last January, trafficking networks have emerged to maintain the flow of recruits.

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