Russia is reportedly dangling a lucrative deal to hire mercenaries in Africa — after apparently running out of prison inmates it can send to fight in Ukraine.
In an "intelligence update" posted Monday on social media, Britain's Ministry of Defence said Russia has "intensified attempts to recruit Africans" for its nearly 2 1/2-year war against Ukraine.
"Russia is reportedly offering a sign-up bonus of $2,000, monthly pay of $2,200 and the promise of a Russian passport," the Defence Ministry said, citing recent information from Ukrainian military intelligence.
The recruitment efforts are concentrated on the central African countries of Rwanda, Burundi, Congo and Uganda, according to the ministry's post on X, formerly Twitter.
In Rwanda, the median monthly salary is just $43 a month, according to Britain's Llloyds Bank.
The Russian move is needed to replace its "significant" battlefield losses and to "sustain offensive activities" on the frontlines of the war, the Defence Ministry said.
"With Russia's finite pool of convict recruitment likely culminated, Russia is likely expanding its recruitment across the global south, to avoid additional mobilizations within Russia itself," the ministry said.
Russia's most recent military call-up proved "domestically unpopular" for President Vladimir Putin and also led to a record labor shortage and an exodus of skilled workers including doctors in information technology professionals, the ministry said.
