ALBAWABA - In its latest report on the war in Ukraine, the Financial Times said that Russian authorities recruited hundreds of Houthi mercenaries to fight in its war against Ukraine through a shadowy human trafficking operation.
A Yemeni whistleblower spoke to FT on anonymity saying that they traveled to Russia under the false impression that they would have high-paying jobs in Moscow in addition to being promised Russian citizenship.
Upon arriving in Russia, the Houthi recruits were forcibly enlisted into the Russian army and were sent to fight alongside Russian soldiers at the front lines against Ukraine, indicating that they were tricked into believing that they would be provided better lives.
Footage circulated on social media showed alleged Houthi fighters on Ukrainian lands along with Russian soldiers.
The FT was able to examine the contracts of the Houthi mercenaries who were recruited and highlighted a company founded by high-profile Houthi official Abdulwali Abdo Hassan al-Jabri. The company is listed as a tour operator and retail supplier of medical equipment and pharmaceuticals.
According to the Financial Times, the recruitment began back in early July, with one of the contracts dated July 3rd, and signed by the head of what is believed to be a contractor selection center in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod.
One of the Russian mercenaries was approached by the FT. He claimed to be among the 200 or so Yemenis who were enlisted into the Russian army in September. The person in question said that promising jobs in "security" and "engineering" were what brought him to Russia.
He spent a few weeks at the front before hiding in a Ukrainian forest with four other recently arrived Yemenis. The fighter claimed that one of the men attempted suicide and was hospitalized.
