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The issue of enrolment into Russian services has seen a dynamic shift, especially in regions such as Estonia where Russian special services encounter growing difficulty in recruiting agents. This challenge is not limited to Estonia; across Europe and beyond, Russian attempts at enrolment stretch from teenagers in Ukraine to officials in the US, facing diverse resistance. In Ukraine, stories surface of teenagers bravely rejecting enrolment attempts by the FSB, choosing instead to report these to authorities. Meanwhile, enrolment efforts are reportedly expanding on social media, with videos targeting a broader audience, including citizens in China. Such activities highlight ongoing global tensions and the diverse strategies implemented to recruit individuals, amid a backdrop of complex international relations and conflicts.

What difficulties are Russian services facing in Estonia regarding enrolment?

Russian services are experiencing increased resistance and difficulty in recruiting agents within Estonia. This is largely due to tightened security measures, growing awareness, and active counterintelligence efforts. Efforts to recruit varied demographics, including children and foreign nationals, showcase the breadth of their target audiences, often met with challenges arising from local and international resistance.

How are recruitment efforts targeting children in conflict regions?

In conflict regions, recruitment efforts often target vulnerable demographics such as children through social media and messaging platforms. Authorities stress vigilance and communication to prevent enrolment into illegal activities. The involvement of minors in criminal acts under duress highlights a strategic but unethical focus by foreign powers aiming to exploit youthful innocence and coerced participation in broader geopolitical conflicts.

What role does social media play in recruitment activities?

Social media platforms serve as significant tools for recruitment activities, offering a vast reach and a perceived anonymity conducive to illicit activities. Particularly in regions like China, where strict censorship exists, agents navigate these digital spaces to enlist individuals for purposes such as conflicts or espionage, exploiting both technological means and the psychological impacts these platforms wield globally.

How have recruitment activities changed in Ukraine amid ongoing war efforts?

In Ukraine, recruitment activities have intensified amidst the ongoing conflict, with varied tactics employed, including misleading incentives and promises targeting economically or socially vulnerable groups. These activities underline an urgent need for stringent local resistance efforts and international support to counteract the influence and recruitment by foreign aggressors intending to destabilize the nation further.

Are there specific recruitment incentives offered to foreign nationals by Russian forces?

Yes, Russian forces have been known to offer varied incentives to foreign nationals, ranging from financial compensation to promises of debt forgiveness or legal exemptions for participation in conflict roles. This tactic aims to recruit individuals from economically and politically unstable backgrounds, seeking to leverage personal circumstances for gain in military or intelligence roles.

What strategies are employed in recruiting former military personnel globally?

Recruitment strategies for former military personnel often involve leveraging their specialized skills and experience amidst promises of significant monetary rewards and political or military benefits. These individuals present valuable assets due to their expertise, and recruiting efforts focus on capitalizing on any dissatisfactions with previous or current governments to incentivize their alignment with foreign entities.

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Telegram Russian Federation recruits migrants via Telegram for crimes in Europe - Czech intelligence Russia is using migrants from outside the EU to commit crimes, increase fear, and undermine trust in European governments. 1 952 15 Previously in trend: Russian subversions in EU

Estonia Media: Russian special services find it increasingly difficult to recruit agents in Estonia Russian special services are facing increasing difficulties in recruiting agents in Estonia. 1 201 6 Previously in trend: Recruited FSB agents

Recruitment of children by Russians for arson attacks Almost 50 children reported to police about Russian attempts to recruit them More and more children are reporting to the police about Russian attempts to recruit them through messengers and social media. 2 822 10 Previously in trend: Recruitment of Ukrainian teenagers by Russia

Teenagers reported FSB recruitment to SSU. They were awarded Teenagers reported attempt to recruit them by FSB employees: they were awarded, - SSU. PHOTOS Two teenagers from Kryvyi Rih who refused to work for the FSB and informed law enforcement officers about an attempted recruitment by the Russian special services were awarded. 7 730 32 Previously in trend: Recruitment of Ukrainian teenagers by Russia FSB recruits Ukrainian teenagers

Joint training exercises between Belarus and China Video of Russians recruiting Chinese to fight in Ukraine is published on Chinese social media - Guardian Chinese social media, which are subject to strict and rapid censorship, allow Russians to use them for their own purposes. In particular, to publish videos that campaign for participation in Russia's war with Ukraine. 7 337 41 Previously in trend: Participation of Chinese nationals in the war against Ukraine Chinese mercenaries in Russian army

Russians recruit Ukrainian children for terrorist attacks In times of war, one should be doubly attentive to children, especially when enemy tries to use them - Nebytov Adults should talk to children and pay attention to them, especially now that the enemy is trying to recruit them to commit crimes. 484 5 Previously in trend: Recruitment of Ukrainian teenagers by Russia countering terrorist attacks

Recruitment of dismissed US officials Russia, China try to recruit US officials unhappy with massive dismissals - CNN Most of the efforts are focused on employees with access to state secrets and those who may have valuable information about critical infrastructure and the US government bureaucracy. 3 568 18 Previously in trend: recruitment of dismissed US civil servants mass dismissals in the US

An African mercenary of the Russian army was killed in Kursk region First mercenary from Africa, who fought on side of RF, killed in Kursk region. PHOTO A 32-year-old African mercenary, Derrick Ngamana, who fought against Ukraine on the side of the aggressor country, Russia, was killed in the Kursk region near Sudzha. He became the first citizen of the Central African Republic to be identified among the killed Russian mercenaries in the Kursk region. 10 172 30

Invaders recruit Ukrainians through the "trainee of the Ministry of Education" program Occupiers recruit Ukrainians to Russian state structures through new programs - NRC The occupation authorities of Russia have launched a new campaign to recruit residents of the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine to the state structures of the Russian Federation. 1 227 4

Russians are recruiting bank debtors for TOT Russians in occupied territories recruit bank debtors: promise to write off loan debts - National Resistance Center Russians in the occupied territories promise to write off loan debts if the debtor signs a contract with the Russian army. 2 382 23

Вікрам Місрі India returns 85 of its citizens recruited by Russia for war against Ukraine - Foreign Ministry India has returned home 85 of its citizens who were recruited by Moscow into the Russian army and sent to the war against Ukraine. 1 695 5

У РФ переслідують мігрантів RF persecutes migrants to recruit them into army - British intelligence On 31 July 2024, the Russian State Duma approved a draft law to deprive naturalized citizens of their citizenship if they do not register for military service. The draft law was co-authored by State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, which indicates the Kremlin's approval. 1 360 8

підпал, авто About 40 arson attacks on Armed Forces vehicles have already been recorded in Kharkiv region. Most of arsonists are under 18 years old - Syniehubov In Kharkiv and the region, about 40 cases of arson attacks on the vehicles of Ukrainian defenders were recorded. The arsonists are mostly teenagers aged 12 to 18. 6 801 111

У Росії платять за вербування родичів та друзів на війну проти України Russia will pay 100,000 rubles for recruiting relatives and friends for war against Ukraine The authorities of the Yaroslavl region of the Russian Federation will pay 100,000 rubles for each person whom Russians persuade to go to war against Ukraine. 1 858 13

У РФ на війну вербують підлтків Russia recruits teenagers for war against Ukraine - National Resistance Centre The Kremlin is actively looking for manpower to replenish the unprecedented losses in Ukraine. The Russians have resorted to recruiting teenagers. 2 233 18

підпал RF offers thousands of dollars to Ukrainian children for arson of AFU vehicles - Lubinets The aggressor country is recruiting underage Ukrainians to set fire to vehicles of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. For this, the enemy offers a monetary reward of several thousand dollars. 9 211 100

малюк SSU exposes 11 agent networks since beginning of 2024 - Maliuk Since the beginning of 2024, the Security Service of Ukraine has already exposed 11 agent networks. In 2023, 47 agent networks were exposed. 1 081 19 Society

рф,жінки,росія,колонія,ув'язненні RF has begun to actively recruit women from penal colonies for war against Ukraine - National Resistance Center Russian occupants recruit female prisoners to fight against Ukraine. For this, they are promised money and the opportunity to return home. 1 241 11 Previously in trend: War

СБУ викрила в'язня, який став агентом ФСБ Prisoner-agent of FSS, who recruited convicts in colony and planned to help Russian SRG in north of Ukraine, was exposed - SSU. PHOTO The SSU foiled new attempts by the FSB to create its own agent network in the border areas of northern Ukraine. The offenders were supposed to collect intelligence on the Defence Forces and facilitate the breakthrough of Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups. Thus, in a penal colony in the Zhytomyr region, an FSS agent was exposed who was recruiting other prisoners for subversive activities against Ukraine. 4 661 10 Incidents

цнс,вербування Russians are expanding system of recruiting foreign students to Russian Armed Forces, - National Resistance Centre The Defence Forces are increasingly capturing foreigners who have been recruited by Russians into their army. Their stories revealed a number of factors that point to an organised scheme to persuade foreign students to sign a contract with the Russian Armed Forces. 2 202 23 World

гур conducted successful special operation "Barynya", which resulted in recruitment of Russian career military. PHOTO Russian military officer Daniil Alfyorov was skilfully recruited by Ukraine’s special services. He has been cooperating with the DIU since June 2023 and convinced 11 Russian servicemen to surrender. 10 465 34 Photo News

вагнер,пвк Wagner PMC continues to recruit Russians into its ranks - Russian media The regional centers of Wagner PMC continue to recruit new fighters after mercenary leader Yevhen Prygozhyn publicly announced that recruitment centers had been closed. 1 498 6 World

легіон Freedom of Russia Legion is recruiting Russians to storm Moscow, - The Times A Russian Freedom Legion fighter with the call sign Caesar said that Russian partisans who attacked Kremlin forces from Ukraine have "thousands" of people willing to join their ranks and will continue raiding the border until their forces are large enough to storm Moscow. 19 704 56 World

цру CIA began recruiting Russians through Telegram and released video with instructions. VIDEO The US Central Intelligence Agency created a Telegram channel with instructions for Russians on how to safely contact him and pass on information. 6 884 32 World

рей There are enough opponents of war in Ukraine in Russian intelligence, - FBI Director Wray Russia has enough opponents of aggression against Ukraine. The FBI is ready to contact them. 5 915 9 Previously in trend: War

вагнер,вагнера After losses in Bakhmut, Prigozhin opened recruitment points of "Wagner" PMC in 42 cities of Russian Federation The Russian PMC "Wagner" has opened recruitment points in 42 cities and promises to move forward "despite the colossal resistance of the Armed Forces." 8 845 49 Previously in trend: War

зеки,росія,тюрма,вязниця "Wagner" recruiters began to come to Russian colonies in second round, - Russian media From the end of 2022, the recruiters of "Wagner’s Communist Party" began to visit Russian colonies for the second time, from where they had already recruited prisoners to participate in the war in the spring and autumn. 4 298 17 World

мобілізація,примусова Due to defeat in Kharkov region, Kremlin announces all-Russian recruitment and strengthens covert mobilization - ISW After the successful counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the defeat of Russian troops in the Kharkiv region, the Russian authorities are intensifying covert mobilization and recruitment for the war in Ukraine. 12 865 30 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine War

сбу SSU exposed agent group of Russian MID, which adjusted missile strikes on Zaporizhzhia As a result of a multi-stage special operation in the Zaporizhzhia region, an agent group of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (better known as the MID), which was collecting data on the deployment and movement of the Defense Forces of Ukraine in the south, was neutralized. 5 452 8 War in Ukraine

сбу SSU neutralized Russian agency that was correcting missile strikes on Bakhmut Law enforcement officers conducted a counter-sabotage operation and neutralized four enemy agents who were correcting missile strikes on Bakhmut. 4 436 10 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine War

телефон,смартфон Russian special services are recruiting Ukrainian children to make them informants, - SSU The Security Service of Ukraine is recording the intensification of Russian special services for the recruitment of Ukrainian children to make them their informants. Such attempts are occurring across the country, so the Service once again encourages parents to monitor what children do online. 2 782 7 Previously in trend: War

ефіопія Near Russian embassy in Ethiopia, was queue of people willing to fight. PHOTO Hundreds of Ethiopians go to the Russian embassy, diplomats have come up with their own explanations. 57 018 197 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine War

днр,окупанти,найманці Russia has completely failed in recruiting mercenaries for war in Ukraine - in Transnistria 2 people came against plan of 15,000 - Gerashchenko Anton Gerashchenko, advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs, released information about the complete failure of Russia's recruitment of mercenaries for the war in Ukraine. 42 193 71 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine War

грозев There were 150 FSS officers with unlimited budgets to recruit Ukrainians for coup d'etat, billions of dollars were spent - Grozev Journalists from Bellingcat and The Insider are preparing a new investigation that will reveal how the Federal Security Service created and financed various political figures in Ukraine who were supposed to carry out a coup d'etat after the invasion of the Russian army. 28 136 80 War in Ukraine

SBU caught Russian diggers collecting intel on Ukrainian underground facilities. PHOTOS SBU caught Russian diggers collecting intel on Ukrainian underground facilities. PHOTOS Operatives of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) apprehended Russian nationals attempting to gather intelligence on Ukraine’s critical underground infrastructure on behalf of the aggressor state. 36 251 91 Incidents

Russian diplomats expelled from Moldova allegedly recruited militants for Donbas, - Reuters Moldovan intelligence believes five Russian diplomats expelled from Moldova last month were spies who were recruiting fighters for the Moscow-backed insurgency in neighboring Ukraine. 15 781 34 Incidents

сбу SBU foils terror attack planned by Russia's FSB. PHOTOS The Security Service of Ukraine has prevented a terrorist act prepared by Russian special services. 39 540 54 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine

Eight states tried to recruit agents among Ukrainian military in 2016, - SBU The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) claims eight foreign states sought to recruit agents among Ukrainian servicemen in 2016. 37 418 51 Ukrainian Politics

безъязыков Treason suspect Colonel Beziazykov gets sick as court decides on pre-trial restraint The Shevchenko district court of Kyiv has released from custody military intelligence officer, Colonel Ivan Beziazykov accused of collaboration with the "Donetsk People's Republic" until a final decision on pre-trial restraint is reached. The colonel felt unwell and has been hospitalized. 59 085 134 Ukrainian Politics

безъязыков Colonel Beziazykov, recently liberated from terrorists’ captivity, detained on suspicion of collaborating with militants, - wife Military intelligence operative, Ukrainian Armed Forces Colonel Ivan Beziazykov, freed from the militants’ captivity in the summer of 2016, has been detained on suspicion of collaborating with the so-called “DPR”. 184 767 283 Previously in trend: Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas

террорист Russian military intelligence informant apprehended in Donetsk region. PHOTO The man was recruited in August by his close contacts who were members of the "DPR". 23 021 47 Ukrainian Politics

Russia's secret services tried to recruit Ukrainian diplomat in Moscow The Security Service of Ukraine returned a Ukrainian diplomat who FSB had tried to recruit in Moscow. 17 863 26 Ukrainian Politics

Russian military recruit prisoners in Donbas The Russian soldiers recruit inmates into the ranks of the terrorists in the Donbas, promising amnesty and a 10,000 rubles reward. 15 284 104 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine

Russian recruiting centers in occupied Donetsk hire mercenaries for Syrian war, - Defense Ministry Main Intelligence Directorate Recruiting centers hiring mercenaries for the war in Syria operate in the occupied areas of the Donbas. 14 078 117 Previously in trend: War in Syria Occupied territories - Crimea and Donbas

москва вербовщица moscow recruiter "This is terrorism, this is pure fascism!" – Moscow residents reported military recruiter for Donbas to police. VIDEO Residents of Moscow have called the police upon seeing a tent of recruiters on the street agitating to go to war as part of the "DPR" and "LPR" illegal armed formations. 201 617 609 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine Evidence of Russian aggression in Ukraine

сбу шпион SBU lieutenant colonel detained for passing classified information to Russia. PHOTO The Ukrainian Security Service has exposed a traitor in its ranks, recruited by the GRU of the General Staff of the Russian armed forces. The perpetrator was detained. 117 564 187 Ukrainian Politics

армия рф вербовка агрессия оккупанты срочники "Those killed there will be written off post factum": Russian conscripts are recruited in mass for Donbas war. PHOTOS Russian conscripts and reservist are, by hook or by crook, lured to become contract soldiers for further participation in the war in the Donbas. 196 107 762 Previously in trend: Russian aggression against Ukraine Evidence of Russian aggression in Ukraine

боевик Recruiter, Head of Sverdlovsk Foundation of Special Forces Veterans revealed how he was sending Russian militants to Donbas in humanitarian convoys. PHOTOS Head of the Sverdlovsk Foundation of Special Forces Veterans Vladimir Yefimoev confessed that he recruited and sent Russian militants to the Donbas in humanitarian convoys. 157 115 298 Previously in trend: Evidence of Russian aggression in Ukraine