Russia is paying a $26,000 signing bonus to recruit 18 Americans for its war in Ukraine, Ukrainian officials confirmed on May 28, 2024. The payments are channeled through a covert network that uses TikTok, Telegram and Facebook to lure potential volunteers. The scheme is part of a broader effort that has drawn nearly 29,000 foreigners from 135 nations into Russian ranks, officials say. The numbers are staggering.
Seth William Baker, a 23‑year‑old former U.S. Marine from Gilbert, Arizona, is the first American identified. Baker, who had been discharged after refusing a COVID‑19 vaccine mandate, signed up and was killed in Ukraine three months later. He recorded a video from a Russian bunker saying the mandate pushed him to leave the Marines.
Recruiters earn roughly ₹24,000 per recruit, plus a slice of the recruit’s salary, Ukrainian intelligence officials said. The payment structure incentivizes a rapid influx of foreign fighters, as these agents collect money for each enlistment.
Amnesty International has documented deceptive tactics, promising civilian jobs, high salaries, legal status or Russian citizenship. Yet the reality is that many recruits are lured by false promises and end up fighting on the front.
Vitaliy Matvienko, who leads a Ukrainian program to encourage Russian soldiers to surrender, said the foreign recruitment turns into "an entire industry." He argued that the deaths of foreigners are less likely to spark domestic outrage in Russia, giving Moscow a propaganda edge.
Ukrainian security services have opened a criminal probe into the recruitment network, and officials say they will pursue sanctions against recruiters and their agents. The investigation could force a crackdown on foreign enlistment channels and disrupt Russia's manpower strategy.