Russian recruiters have compiled a list of countries whose citizens will no longer be recruited for contract service.
This was reported on February 23, 2026, by the project “Important Stories”.
The Russian authorities have banned the recruitment of citizens from several countries for the war against Ukraine. These are countries that Moscow traditionally considers “friendly.” According to the investigative project “Important Stories,” Russian recruiters have been given a closed list of countries from which it is now prohibited to sign contracts with the Russian Armed Forces.
Sources in regional centers for contract service recruitment confirmed the existence of the list. Formally, the decision was not publicly announced, but in fact, the restrictions are already in effect.
Which countries are banned
36 countries in the initial list
According to journalists, in early January 2026, recruiters began circulating a list of 36 countries. It was found in specialized chats and groups on social networks where foreigners are recruited.
The list includes countries from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. Among them are China, India, Brazil, South Africa, Turkey, Cuba, Iran, Venezuela, Egypt, Pakistan, Vietnam, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.
The African bloc includes Algeria, Angola, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, and South Africa.
From Asia — Afghanistan, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Laos, Nepal, Oman, Syria, Sri Lanka, and others.
From North and South America — Cuba, Nicaragua, Brazil, and Venezuela.
List expansion
In February, according to sources, the list was supplemented with seven more countries: Colombia, Argentina, Cameroon, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, and Iraq.
The expansion of the list was also reported by Iraqi blogger Mustafa al-Yasari, who claims to have exposed Russian recruitment networks. According to him, the information was obtained from a Russian officer. There is no official confirmation of this yet.
Possible reasons for the restrictions
Diplomatic pressure
Experts suggest that the ban resulted from diplomatic negotiations. Since mid-2024, Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka have officially appealed to Moscow to stop recruiting their citizens.
Moscow publicly pledged not to sign contracts with Indians and Sri Lankans. In November 2025, Jordan made a similar demand — it soon appeared on the stop list.
Kenya, one of the largest suppliers of mercenaries for the Russian army, also publicly called for an end to recruitment. According to local authorities, more than a thousand Kenyans were sent to the front.
Scandals and investigations
Journalists recorded cases where Africans and citizens of other countries were recruited under the guise of civilian work.
In one high-profile episode, 35-year-old Kenyan Francis Ndaru was offered a job as an electrical engineer in Russia. Later, contact with him was lost, and his relatives recognized him in a video where a black fighter in Russian uniform was sent on an assault with a mine attached to his chest.
According to the Ukrainian project “I Want to Live,” by the fall of 2025, Russia had recruited more than 10,000 foreign mercenaries. About 37% of them are citizens of countries now included in the stop list.
Leading are Cuba (more than 1,000 people), Nepal (about 800), and Sri Lanka (over 700).
The largest number of foreign fighters comes from EAEU countries: Tajikistan (more than 1,500), Belarus (over 1,300), and Kazakhstan (more than 1,100).
What this means for Moscow
Formally, the Russian authorities have not announced a reduction in recruitment. However, the transfer of the blacklist indicates a policy adjustment.
The reasons may be pragmatic: reducing international pressure, trying to avoid diplomatic crises with partners, or reputational losses.
In analytical materials by NANews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency, such steps are seen as an indicator of a change in Moscow’s tactics regarding the recruitment of foreigners for the war against Ukraine.
The open question remains: will the ban affect citizens of the listed countries already on the front lines, and will the list become final? Recruitment channels continue to operate, albeit with new restrictions.