Russia has reportedly enlisted hundreds of Yemeni mercenaries under false promises of high-paying jobs and citizenship, the Daily Mail reports.
The recruits claimed they were sent directly to the frontlines in Ukraine after induction into the Russian military through a Houthi-linked company.
According to recruits, many were coerced into joining with promises of safe, lucrative careers in fields like engineering. One recruit described being forced to sign a contract at gunpoint in Russia before being transported to Ukraine.
“A man fired a pistol above our heads and ordered us to sign,” he told The Financial Times.
Reports suggest that Russia’s recruitment efforts began in July, months before North Korean forces were sent to bolster Russian lines. One Yemeni recruit claimed he was among 200 others conscripted in September.
Contracts seen by the FT reference a company linked to Houthi politician Abdulwali Abdo Hassan al-Jabri.
Recruits described brutal conditions in Ukraine, with constant bombardments, no rest, and instances of self-harm among soldiers. “One recruit ended up in hospital after attempting to take their own life,” the FT reported.
Western officials allege that the Houthis, with Iranian assistance, are facilitating arms deals and intelligence sharing with Russia. These deals reportedly include missile and satellite data transfers, with the potential to destabilise the region further.
Experts warn that upgrading Houthi capabilities, such as providing advanced Yakhont missiles, could provoke direct Israeli retaliation.
“Any successful upgrade of Houthi capabilities would also likely draw a kinetic Israeli response,” Edmund Fitton-Brown, a senior advisor to the Counter Extremism Project, told MailOnline.
Russia’s actions are seen as part of a broader strategy to undermine Western influence. “One key Russian objective is to show US weakness and thus make Trump’s reelection more likely,” Fitton-Brown added.
Meanwhile, the Houthis have reportedly targeted over 100 vessels in the Red Sea in solidarity with Hamas, disrupting trade routes and raising tensions in the region.