A total of 66 Uzbek nationals have died while fighting for the Russian army in the ongoing war against Ukraine, according to a joint investigation by the BBC Russian Service and independent Russian media outlet Mediazona.
The report reveals that over 118,000 Russian soldiers have been killed since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Among the dead are more than 500 foreign nationals from 28 different countries, many of whom were recruited under controversial and coercive circumstances.
According to the investigation, citizens of Tajikistan top the list of foreign casualties with 72 deaths, followed closely by Uzbekistan with 66. Many of these individuals — 43 from Tajikistan and 46 from Uzbekistan — were former prisoners who joined the fight under promises of sentence reductions or full pardons, often by signing contracts with Wagner Group, the notorious Russian paramilitary organization.
Human rights organizations warn that Central Asian migrants in Russia have been disproportionately targeted and pressured into enlisting. Advocacy groups cite a growing trend of coercion, with migrants reportedly offered expedited Russian citizenship, deportation cancellations, or the lifting of travel bans in return for military service. Some lawyers say that migrants have been threatened with imprisonment or forced conscription if they refused to sign contracts with Russia's Ministry of Defense.
While official numbers remain incomplete, the report also notes that North Korean casualties may surpass 600, according to South Korean intelligence. However, due to the secretive nature of Pyongyang’s involvement, these figures remain unconfirmed.
Outside of the former Soviet Union, Nepal has suffered the highest known number of deaths, with 70 confirmed and an additional 50 citizens missing. The Nepalese government has reportedly begun sending DNA samples to Russia to identify the deceased.
Citizens from African nations — including Ethiopia, Zambia, the Central African Republic, Tanzania, and Togo — have also fought on the Russian side. The Sri Lankan government recently stated that at least 288 former soldiers from its ranks were recruited by Russia, with 16 reported dead.
According to U.S. intelligence, a small number of American nationals have also joined Russian forces, while 2,000–3,000 Americans are believed to be fighting with Ukraine. Intelligence sources also identified 54 Ukrainian citizens who served in the Russian army and have been killed, all of whom were residing in Russian-controlled areas at the war’s onset.
Follow Daryo's official Instagram and Twitter pages to keep current on world news.
Comments (0)