Amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Russia, facing severe manpower shortages, has reportedly turned to Yemen for additional troops. This follows similar recruitment efforts in North Korea. Yemenis are said to be traveling to Russia through Houthi rebel networks. They are enticed by promises of high-paying jobs and the possibility of Russian citizenship in exchange for fighting on the front lines.
On Sunday, the Financial Times cited sources who stated that Russia had recruited hundreds of Yemenis to deploy them to the Ukrainian front. These Yemenis, who have been embroiled in civil war since 2014, reportedly arrived in Russia with assistance from companies related to Houthi rebels. In return, they were promised high wages, employment opportunities, and Russian citizenship.
Following its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia issued a partial mobilization order in September 2022, drafting 300,000 reservists. However, it has refrained from further mobilization orders. Despite severe manpower depletion as the conflict in Ukraine persists, Russia is avoiding forced conscription and has been cautious about stoking anti-war sentiment within the country. On October 28, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated, “The deployment of North Korean troops to Kursk is also a sign of Putin’s growing desperation. Over 600,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded in Putin’s war, and he is unable to sustain his assault on Ukraine without foreign support.” The Financial Times also reported that North Korea dispatched approximately 12,000 troops to Russia last month, adding that mercenaries from Nepal and India are also engaged in combat against Ukrainian forces.
U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking revealed that while Russia has not disclosed specifics, it is actively engaging with Houthi rebels and discussing arms transfers. The Houthis, aligned with Iran against the U.S. and Israel, are increasingly gravitating towards Russia, which shares their anti-U.S. stance. Lenderking warned, “The kinds of weapons that are being discussed are very alarming and would enable the Houthis to better target ships in the Red Sea and possibly beyond.”
Maged Almadhaji, the head of the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies, a Yemen-focused think-tank, explained that Russia is seeking alliances with “any group in the Red Sea, or in the Middle East, that is hostile to the US.” He claimed that the Houthis have organized mercenaries to strengthen ties with Russia. Mohammed al Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthi Political Bureau, told the Russian news website Meduza earlier this month that they are in constant communication with the Russian leadership to develop comprehensive relations across political, economic, and military domains.
Farea Al-Muslimi, a Middle East and North Africa researcher at the British think tank Chatham House, highlighted that most Yemeni mercenaries lack proper military training. “Russia is desperate for manpower, and the Houthis are actively recruiting,” he stated. “Yemen’s extreme poverty makes recruitment alarmingly easy.”
The Financial Times, which has been in contact with Russian-linked Yemeni mercenaries, revealed disturbing details about the recruitment process. Some Yemenis reportedly signed enlistment contracts without being able to read them. In contrast, others claim they came to Russia thinking of working at a factory only to be forcibly conscripted into the military.
