Russia Sends 20,000 Naturalized Migrants to Ukraine Frontline

Russian authorities have reportedly conscripted over 20,000 migrants from Central Asia who recently received Russian citizenship and sent them to fight in Ukraine, according to Alexander Bastrykin, head of Russia's Investigative Committee. These migrants primarily come from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan and were targeted in raids by military investigators, police, and the Russian National Guard to enforce military registration compliance. Bastrykin noted that over 80,000 migrants who failed to register for military service were detained, with one-fourth sent to the frontline, while others were assigned to support roles such as digging trenches. This effort is part of a broader strategy amid Russia's largest conscription in 14 years, aiming to meet manpower needs without sparking mass draft evasion. The Kremlin has also introduced legislation allowing revocation of citizenship for naturalized individuals who avoid military service, signaling an intensifying crackdown on migrant populations amid the ongoing conflict. Financial incentives and targeted recruitment, including from regions with poor economic conditions, are part of Russia's approach to sustain its military forces in Ukraine.