Russia marks foreign recruits with numbers on their skin instead of military ID tags, Ukraine’s intelligence says

According to GUR, foreign recruits are assigned serial “inventory numbers,” which are applied to their equipment or skin using long-lasting dyes such as henna or jagua. The markings remain visible for several weeks and are renewed when they begin to fade.

Ukrainian intelligence said Russian police have checked foreign nationals, including students and migrant workers, for the markings while searching for service members who have left their units without authorization.

GUR said the system effectively strips foreign recruits of personal identification and could also make it easier for Russia to conceal casualties. Bodies could be left unidentified or recruits listed as missing, potentially allowing Russia to avoid paying compensation to families abroad, according to the agency.

The practice comes amid Russia’s broader effort to recruit foreign nationals for its war against Ukraine. According to data from Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry cited by Suspilne, Russia has recruited at least 2,982 citizens of 37 African countries, around 500 of whom have been killed.

In April, GUR said Russia planned to recruit about 20,000 foreign nationals in 2026, with Central Asian countries among its main targets, alongside Bangladesh, Chad, Sudan, Burundi and other African countries.