Ukraine war: Putin offers citizenship to foreigners who fight for Russia

Moscow does not publish data on the number of foreigners fighting on its side in Ukraine. However, Reuters has reported previously on Cubans who signed up for the military in return for bonuses equivalent to more than 100 times the average Cuban monthly salary, and three Africans recruited by Wagner, of whom two were killed in action.

A declassified US intelligence report assessed that the Ukraine war has cost Russia 315,000 dead and wounded troops, or nearly 90 per cent of the personnel it had when the conflict began, a source familiar with the intelligence told Reuters last month.

Russia drafted an extra 300,000 men in September 2022 in its first mobilisation since World War II. There has been persistent speculation it could repeat the unpopular move, perhaps after the next presidential election in March, in which Putin is set to stroll to a new six-year term.

The Kremlin has repeatedly said no further mobilisation is needed, however, because hundreds of thousands of men signed voluntary contracts last year to become professional soldiers.

Finland bolsters military ties with US after Putin warning

Neither Russia nor Ukraine has disclosed the extent of its losses in the 22-month war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said last month that his military had proposed mobilising 450,000-500,000 more people, and the Kyiv parliament on Thursday began reviewing a contested piece of draft legislation that would tighten and expand mobilisation rules.