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Syrian worker's passport burned after refusing to pay recruiter
A 26-year-old Syrian construction worker known as Omar recounts how a Russian recruiter set his passport ablaze after he refused to pay an additional $3,000 for a non-combat role in Ukraine. The video, sent to Omar's phone while he served on the front line, included a woman's voice in Russian saying, "It's burning well."
Recruitment tactics under scrutiny
Omar claims Polina Azarnykh, a 40-year-old former teacher, promised him lucrative pay and Russian citizenship in exchange for military service. Instead, he says he was deployed to Ukraine with only 10 days of training. When he resisted, commanders threatened imprisonment or death, he told the BBC under a pseudonym for safety.
Telegram channel draws hundreds of recruits
A BBC Eye investigation found Azarnykh's Telegram channel, which has 21,000 subscribers, has issued nearly 500 "invitations" to men from Syria, Egypt, Yemen, and other countries. These documents allow recipients to enter Russia for military enlistment. Families of 12 recruits say their loved ones are now dead or missing.
"We were tricked... this woman is a con artist and a liar."
Omar, Syrian recruit
Misleading promises and threats
Recruits and relatives allege Azarnykh misled men about combat roles, contract terms, and the ability to leave after one year. Yousef, an Egyptian man whose brother was killed in Ukraine, says Azarnykh promised housing and citizenship but sent his brother to the front line without adequate training. The family later received images of his body via Telegram.
Recruiter's shifting messaging
Azarnykh's posts initially avoided mentioning combat, but by mid-2024, she began acknowledging that recruits would "participate in hostilities." In one video, she stated, "You all understood well that you were going to war... Nothing happens for free."
Russia's reliance on foreign fighters grows
With over one million Russian soldiers killed or wounded since the 2022 invasion, Moscow has expanded recruitment efforts. NATO estimates 25,000 Russian troops died in December 2025 alone. BBC Russian analysis suggests at least 20,000 foreigners, including from Cuba, Nepal, and North Korea, have joined the war.
Recruitment networks expand
Kateryna Stepanenko, a research fellow at the Institute for the Study of War, says local authorities in Russia now offer cash incentives to recruiters. "The Kremlin is leveraging locals and smaller companies" after larger entities like Wagner Group proved insufficient, she told the BBC.
Survivors speak out
Habib, a Syrian veteran who worked with Azarnykh, says most foreign recruits expected non-combat roles. "The Arabs who are coming are dying immediately," he said. He claims Azarnykh received $300 per recruit, though the BBC could not verify this.
Omar and Habib eventually returned to Syria, but two of Omar's comrades were killed. "She sees us as numbers or money-she doesn't see us as people," Habib said.
Recruiter denies wrongdoing
The BBC attempted to contact Azarnykh multiple times. She initially offered an interview in Russia but later hung up when asked about allegations. In subsequent voice notes, she called the BBC's work "not professional" and warned of defamation proceedings. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defence did not respond to requests for comment.
