Russia is recruiting frontline troops for its war against Ukraine any way it can, and has duped at least 18 US men into fighting.
asserted
it → recruit → fighting
Moscow has suffered 1.5 million casualties including 500,000 deaths since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, per estimates from the UK, and aggressively enlists foreigners to prop up its war effort.
asserted
Moscow → suffer → effort
Most are sent into the “meatgrinder” — the frontlines where they are mostly cannon fodder, quickly mowed down by Ukrainian drones, soldiers or artillery.
asserted
they → send → drones
“It has become an entire industry and is very profitable.
asserted
It → become → ?
Russia suffers 30,000–40,000 casualties every month and they are no longer able to cover their losses,” Vitaliy Matvienko, who heads a Ukrainian state project on Russian surrenders, told The Post.
asserted
who → suffer → Post
“They recruit foreigners, send them to war, and when they are killed, their deaths do not create any negative reaction in Russian society.
asserted
deaths → recruit → society
In most cases, the families of killed foreign recruits do not receive the compensation they are supposed to receive.
asserted
they → kill → compensation
”
Agents all around the world have been mobilized and use targeted ads on Facebook, TikTok and Telegram to prey on the poor, vulnerable and ideologically obsessed — earning $24,000 per recruit, plus a cut of their salary.
asserted
Agents → mobilize → salary
Among those duped was Seth William Baker, a lance corporal from Gilbert, Arizona, who served as a bulk fuel specialist with the 4th Marine Logistics Group.
asserted
who → dupe → Group
He was killed on the frontlines at the age of 23, just three months after signing up.
asserted
He → kill → 23
US recruits are typically paid a $26,000 signing bonus and $2,000 per month.
asserted
recruits → pay → month
Ukrainian security officials have identified nearly 29,000 foreigners from 135 different countries —including North Korea, Kenya and Ghana — fighting for Russia but stress that the actual figure is significantly higher.
asserted
figure → identify → Russia
Officials say many are duped online.
asserted
many → say → ?
That was the case with Baker, who joined the US Marines as an 18-year-old and earned the National Defense Service Medal.
asserted
who → join → Medal
But after refusing to take the COVID vaccine when the Defense Department made it mandatory for all service members, he was discharged from the Marine Corps.
asserted
he → refuse → Corps
He was then indoctrinated online by Russian propaganda and groomed into joining Putin’s war.
asserted
He → indoctrinate → war
“There’s many reasons why I came here, but one of the big tipping points was when I was a lance corporal,” Baker said in a video recorded inside a Russian bunker.
asserted
Baker → ’ → bunker
“They came out with the COVID vaccine mandate in the military.
asserted
They → come → military
There’s a few of us – not very many unfortunately – that said, ‘We’re not going to take it.’
asserted
We → ’ → it
There’s all this talk about freedom in America, but not for some of us, I suppose.”
asserted
I → ’ → us
“He was discharged from military service, failed to get into a police academy, and apparently struggled to find his place in American society.
asserted
He → discharge → society
Seth was obviously a young man who was susceptible to influence,” he said.
asserted
he → say → influence
The Post has contacted Baker’s parents for comment.
asserted
Post → contact → comment
Ukrainian intelligence services have identified 17 other Americans who have enlisted into the Russian military.
asserted
who → identify → military
Former Massachusetts city councilor Wilmer Puello-Mota, who was standing trial for a child porn charge, fled the country and is now fighting in Russia’s war.
The Ex-Holyoke official, 30, who served in the US Air Force for six years, signed his mercenary contract in April 2024 and was seen in a Russian propaganda video planting a US flag in a Ukrainian city.
asserted
who → stand → city
“Victory will be ours,” he declared in Russian before defending his stance.
asserted
he → declare → stance
“I don’t consider myself a traitor.
asserted
myself → consider → ?
His legal turmoil began after authorities found naked photos of a 17-year-old girl on his cell phone in 2020.
asserted
authorities → begin → 2020
He was charged with child pornography back then even as he tried to claim he thought the victim was 22.
uncertain
victim → charge → pornography
Puello-Mota is still fighting for Russia and last month suffered shrapnel wounds to his leg following an explosion.
asserted
Mota → fight → explosion
The most high-profile US case is that of Michael Gloss, 21, the son of a high-ranking CIA official who was killed in the war in April 2024.
asserted
who → rank → April
Photos of Gloss wearing camouflage military gear and posing alongside Russian soldiers emerged to the shock of his parents Juliane Gallina, the CIA’s then deputy director for digital innovation, and US Navy veteran Larry Gloss.
asserted
Photos → wear → innovation
He was said to have been struggling with mental health issues and stopped taking his medication before going “off the grid” and later resurfacing in the Russian military.
asserted
He → say → military
Gloss died from massive blood loss during an artillery barrage in Donetsk while trying to assist a wounded Russian soldier, according to his father.
uncertain
Gloss → die → father
Putin even presented a medal, recognizing outstanding civilian service, to US special envoy Steve Witkoff to hand to Gloss’ parents.
asserted
Putin → present → parents
The latest American to join Russian forces is Derek Huffman, who moved his family to Russia to escape what he called the LGBTQ “indoctrination” in America.
asserted
he → join → America
The 47-year-old signed up to fight to earn “respect” and secure Russian citizenship for his wife, DeAnna, and their three daughters, but he soon found himself sent to the frontlines.
asserted
himself → sign → frontlines
“He feels like he’s being thrown to the wolves right now, and he’s kind of having to lean on faith, and that’s what we’re all doing,” his wife said in a now-deleted YouTube video.
asserted
wife → feel → video
But Huffman returned home unscathed after a year, only to tell his supporters that he had “signed another contract” because “victory is close” for Russia.
asserted
victory → return → Russia
Except, a 2022 Russian decree states that military contracts are automatically extended until the end of the “special military operation”.
asserted
contracts → state → operation
…and 10 more, not listed.
The Aporia
