Jordan has called on Russia to stop recruiting its citizens after two Jordanians were reportedly killed while serving in the Russian military.
Russia has targeted foreign citizens through deceptive recruitment campaigns, using coercion and online networks to lure them into high-risk combat and exploiting economic or political vulnerabilities. These operations put recruits in deadly situations while flouting legal and diplomatic norms.
Amman tells Russia: end contracts, stop recruiting our citizens
In a post on X, the Jordanian Foreign Ministry said it would “take all available measures” to halt further enlistment and demanded that Moscow terminate existing contracts of Jordanians currently serving.
The ministry said the recruitment violates both Jordanian and international law and endangers the lives of its citizens.
"Serious violation": Jordan says recruitment breaks national and international law
Spokesperson Fouad Majali warned that foreign entities are actively using online networks to deceive and recruit Jordanians, urging citizens to report any approaches and avoid engagement.
“Recruiting Jordanians into a foreign army is a serious violation of international law and Jordanian legislation, which criminalizes participation in foreign armed forces,” Majali said. He added that the ministry is coordinating with national institutions to take all legal and diplomatic measures to stop these activities and hold recruiters accountable.
Russia treats foreign recruits as expendable - 3,300 already dead
Ukraine has documented large-scale foreign recruitment by Russia, including thousands of North Koreans and more than 1,400 Africans from over 30 countries, often drawn through coercion or deception.
Ukrainian authorities say these recruits are frequently sent to high-casualty operations and treated as expendable, with little oversight or accountability. According to Brigadier General Dmytro Usov, more than 3,300 foreign fighters have already been killed while serving in the Russian military.
