Ukraine: 46,000 foreigners signed Russian army contracts since 2022, 16k in 2026

Ukraine reports a sharp increase in foreign recruitment into the Russian military, with 16,168 identified in the first nine months of 2026, up from prior years. The claim is unverified and likely based on Ukrainian intelligence estimates. This signals Russia's growing manpower needs amid sustained attrition, potentially affecting conflict dynamics and Western assessments of Russian resilience.