For foreign recruits, deserting Russia's army is a fraught gamble

For foreign recruits, deserting Russia's army is a fraught gamble

For foreign recruits, deserting Russia's army is a fraught gamble

Foreign men who were lured or pressured into Russia's army face a dangerous choice if they try to leave, The Moscow Times reports. Many arrived expecting civilian work, only to find themselves signed into military service and sent toward the front. Deserting can mean punishment, detention, or being hunted down, while staying can mean injury or death in combat. The report shows how fear, language barriers, and the loss of documents leave recruits with few safe ways out.

Foreign men who were lured or pressured into Russia's army face a dangerous choice if they try to leave, The Moscow Times reports. Many arrived expecting civilian work, only to find themselves signed into military service and sent toward the front. Deserting can mean punishment, detention, or being hunted down, while staying can mean injury or death in combat. The report shows how fear, language barriers, and the loss of documents leave recruits with few safe ways out.

Foreign men who were lured or pressured into Russia's army face a dangerous choice if they try to leave, The Moscow Times reports. Many arrived expecting civilian work, only to find themselves signed into military service and sent toward the front. Deserting can mean punishment, detention, or being hunted down, while staying can mean injury or death in combat. The report shows how fear, language barriers, and the loss of documents leave recruits with few safe ways out.