The Financial Times reported that Russia has recruited hundreds of Yemeni mercenaries to fight in Ukraine, facilitated by a Houthi-linked operation. Recruits were reportedly promised lucrative jobs and Russian citizenship but were coerced into signing military contracts upon arrival. Many lacked training and were deployed to Ukraine, facing harsh conditions and significant casualties.
The operation, linked to Abdulwali Abdo Hassan al-Jabri, a Houthi politician and business owner, involved recruitment contracts with a company registered in Oman. Yemeni recruits, including some with no prior military experience, were sent to a training facility near Rostov and subsequently deployed.
Russia’s strategic interest in Yemen stems from the country’s geopolitical location as well as its strategic resources, and this recruitment underscores growing ties between Russia and the Iran-backed Houthi group. US diplomats confirmed Russian-Houthi contacts involving discussions on weapons transfers and missile targeting support. While some Yemeni mercenaries have returned, hundreds remain in Russia. Efforts by the International Federation of Yemeni Migrants aim to secure their removal from combat zones.