The Embassy of Ukraine takes note of the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on November 27, 2025.

Unfortunately, the practice of recruiting foreign nationals by the Russian Federation began immediately after the launch of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and has continued for four years. Thousands of citizens of foreign states across the world have already become victims of this practice. In recent months, cases have been documented in Iraq, Kenya, South Africa, and a number of other countries of the Global South, which the Russian Federation routinely exploits as a reservoir for recruiting individuals into its armed forces for the war against Ukraine.

In many instances, foreign citizens — knowingly or unknowingly — enter into arrangements with Russian authorities in exchange for promises of economic or social benefits, such as Russian citizenship, financial compensation, or plots of land, often located on the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Such recruitment is not merely unacceptable — it is outright illegal, unlawful, and in direct violation of international humanitarian law, human rights norms, and the sovereignty of the states whose citizens are targeted.

Foreign nationals recruited into the Russian army face a grim and often fatal fate. Many are immediately deployed in so-called “meat assaults,” where they are exposed to extreme danger and frequently killed within a very short time. Knowing that there is virtually no accountability for the death of a foreigner, the Russian command treats them as expendable — as “second-tier” human material. The overwhelming majority of these mercenaries do not survive beyond their first month at the front.

Moreover, this recruitment process — which requires contracts and direct interaction with the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation or the General Staff — clearly indicates the involvement of Russian state institutions. It is not a matter of isolated criminal schemes; it is an organised and systematic policy conducted by the Russian state apparatus.

Jordanian citizens do not deserve to become victims of the aggressive war launched by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. They should not be drawn — by deception, manipulation, coercion, or financial inducements — into joining an invading army and participating in hostilities against a sovereign state.

Ukraine values its partnership with Jordan and appreciates the principled position of the Jordanian Government in addressing this issue and warning its citizens of the grave consequences of such illegal recruitment. Preventing the exploitation of Jordanian nationals by Russian military structures is essential for safeguarding their lives, fundamental rights, safety, and dignity.

The Embassy of Ukraine reiterates its readiness to maintain close coordination with the Jordanian authorities on all matters related to the protection of Jordanian citizens, the preservation of regional stability, and the upholding of international law.