Bangladeshi workers lured to Russia for jobs were forced to fight in Ukraine, AP investigation finds

Описание: (27 Jan 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lakshmipur, Bangladesh - 10 December 2025
1. Rahman showing photos of himself wearing Russian army uniform with other Bangladeshis
2. SOUNDBITE (Bangla) Maksudur Rahman, escapee from the Russian military: ++SOUNDBITE STARTS ON PREVIOUS SHOT++
“When we told the commanders that we had not come to do these things and that we could not do them, the people who were training us said, ‘We bought you.’ If we could not do something, they would slap us, kick us, and beat us with their boots.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Munshiganj, Bangladesh - 9 December 2025
3. Mohan Miajee, who had joined the Russian army through online recruitment and was deceived, walking alongside an AP reporter in his village
4. SOUNDBITE (Bangla) Mohan Miajee, escapee from the Russian military: ++SOUNDBITE STARTS ON PREVIOUS SHOT AND IS OVERLAID BY SHOT5++
“I submitted my experience documents to her (a Russian army recruiter), and after reviewing them, she said that there was an electronic warfare job available for me, which would be perfect for me, and that I could apply for it if I wanted. I then asked her whether I would have to fight on the front line. She said no, that officially I would work as a drone operator or in technical roles, such as technical or repair-type jobs. So I thought that it would be fine, because I would not have to go to the battlefield, would not have to kill anyone.”
5. Close of Miajee showing his Russian military identification tag
6. Mid of Miajee showing Russian military patches
7. SOUNDBITE (Bangla) Mohan Miajee, escapee from the Russian military: ++SOUNDBITE STARTS ON PREVIOUS SHOT ++
“The commander told me, you have been made to sign a contract to join the battalion. You cannot do any other work here. You have been deceived. Then I texted the madam and asked her, 'Why did you deceive us?'. After sending the message, she did not reply to me at all. Then I asked my friends to text her as well, but she did not reply to their messages either.”
8. Close of Salma Akdar, wife of missing soldier Ajgar Hussein showing photos on her mobile phone of her husband and her husband’s friend Ramzan
9. Akdar listening to message sent by her husband on her mobile phone UPSOUND (Bangla) ++SOUNDBITE STARTS ON PREVIOUS SHOT++
“I have been brought to another camp. I’m no longer in the previous camp. They took us to a different camp in another district. Please pray for me.”
10. Wide of families of missing soldiers in Lakshmipur gathered at village home, talking with NGO representative
11. Mid of Salma Akdar, wife of missing soldier Ajgar Hussein, sitting on chair
12. SOUNDBITE (Bangla) Salma Akdar, wife of missing soldier Ajgar Hussein: ++SOUNDBITE STARTS ON PREVIOUS SHOT AND IS OVERLAID BY SHOT13-14++
“Sometimes I would hear from him after seven days, sometimes after fifteen days. Then, from March 25 onward, all contact with him completely stopped. At that time, he sent me one message saying, ‘Let me know what is happening in the war.’ After sending that message, there was no further news - communication stopped entirely.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Munshiganj, Bangladesh - 15 January 2025
13. Wide of people walking along village road
14. Mid of man walking

STORYLINE:
An Associated Press investigation has found Bangladeshi workers were lured to Russia by the false promise of civilian work, only to be thrust into the chaos of combat in Ukraine.

AP spoke with Bangladeshi men who escaped from the Russian military and the families of others who are still missing.

Many said they were threatened with violence, imprisonment and death.









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