The Embassy of Ukraine in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan welcomes the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan regarding the illegal recruitment of Jordanian citizens into the ranks of the Russian army.

For Ukraine, this issue is extremely sensitive. The Russian Federation has been waging war against Ukraine since 2014, and since February 2022 it has launched a full-scale aggression accompanied by massive destruction, attacks on civilian infrastructure, and the deaths of thousands of civilians.

In the course of this war, Russia has been systematically recruiting foreign citizens from various regions of the world, including the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Recruitment is carried out through networks of intermediaries, online platforms, and recruitment agents who offer money, various benefits, or even promises of Russian citizenship. In a number of cases, such schemes are conducted with the direct involvement of Russian diplomatic missions abroad, which are effectively engaged in the recruitment of foreigners into the Russian armed forces.

The reality behind these promises is far more tragic. According to available information, many foreigners recruited into the Russian armed forces are used as so-called “cannon fodder” and sent to the most dangerous sections of the front line. In many cases, their participation in hostilities lasts only a few days or weeks. In practice, these individuals are forced to take part in the war against Ukrainian cities, communities, and civilians.

Moreover, in many cases recruited foreign citizens do not even receive the money or payments that were promised to them as the main incentive for joining the war. This once again demonstrates the cynical nature of such recruitment schemes.

In fact, Russia uses the recruitment of foreign nationals as one of the ways to compensate for the significant losses of its forces on the battlefield. According to estimates, the total losses of Russian forces in this war have already exceeded 1.3 million killed and wounded. This is why the Kremlin is increasingly attempting to involve citizens of other countries in the war against Ukraine.

In this way, Russia is effectively attempting to “export” its war, drawing citizens of other countries into it and using them as a resource in its aggression.

The Embassy of Ukraine expresses deep concern over these practices and strongly supports the efforts of the Government of Jordan to counter the illegal recruitment of its citizens and to protect their lives and safety.

We call on the citizens of Jordan to exercise particular caution and not to fall victim to propaganda or deceptive promises of financial gain or Russian citizenship. Participation in such schemes poses a serious threat to life and means becoming involved in a war being waged by Russia against a sovereign and independent state — Ukraine.

The Embassy of Ukraine expresses its appreciation to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for its clear position and for warning its citizens against participation in this war.

At the same time, Ukraine reminds that Russian servicemen and foreign nationals who have been recruited into the Russian armed forces and do not wish to participate in this war have the opportunity to surrender safely through the official Ukrainian state program “I Want to Live”. The program is also available to foreign citizens recruited by Russia to fight against Ukraine. It provides a lawful and humane alternative in full compliance with international humanitarian law, guaranteeing proper treatment and the preservation of life for those who lay down their arms, giving them the opportunity to choose life instead of being used as expendable force in Russia’s war. Thousands of Russian servicemen have already used this opportunity to surrender and save their lives. Ukraine respects the value of every human life and remains committed to treating all prisoners of war in accordance with international humanitarian law.

In Ukraine, the project “I Want to Live” (https://hochuzhit.com) is operating — a state initiative of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, implemented with the support of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

The project was created for servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation who wish to voluntarily surrender in accordance with the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

Prisoners of war who surrender under this program are guaranteed proper conditions of detention under the supervision of the International Committee of the Red Cross and other international human rights organizations, three meals a day, medical care, the opportunity to maintain regular contact with their families, and the possibility of meetings with representatives of the diplomatic missions of their country of citizenship.