Russia's military has recruited hundreds of Yemeni men to fight in Ukraine through a covert trafficking operation, according to reporting by the Financial Times.
An investigation by the news outlet reveals that Yemeni recruits were enticed with promises of high-paying jobs and Russian citizenship. Upon arrival through a Houthi-affiliated company, they were coerced into joining the Russian army and deployed to Ukrainian front lines.
The presence of these largely unwilling Yemeni fighters in Ukraine demonstrates how the conflict is drawing in foreign combatants as casualties mount and Moscow seeks to avoid full mobilization. The forces now include mercenaries from Nepal and India, alongside approximately 12,000 North Korean regular army troops deployed for combat against Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk province.
US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking confirmed to the Financial Times that Russia is actively engaging with the Houthis and discussing weapons transfers. "We know that there are Russian personnel in Sana'a helping to deepen this dialogue," he said. "The kinds of weapons that are being discussed are very alarming, and would enable the Houthis to better target ships in the Red Sea and possibly beyond."
One recruit, identified as Nabil, told the Financial Times he was among roughly 200 Yemenis forcibly conscripted in September. Another, Abdullah, reported arriving in Moscow at 6:15 p.m. on Sept. 18, where his group was coerced at gunpoint to sign Russian-language enlistment contracts.
Documents obtained by the Financial Times show the recruitment operation involves a company founded by Major General Abdulwali Abdo Hassan al-Jabri, a prominent Houthi politician. The company, registered in Salalah, Oman, is officially listed as a tour operator and medical equipment supplier.
According to US diplomats speaking to the Financial Times, Moscow provides various forms of assistance to the Houthis, including targeting data for missile launches, and has been discussing arms sales, though experts note no evidence of completed weapons transfers exists.
