ALBAWABA- The former Yemeni diplomat, Ahmed Al-Sahmi, was killed while fighting alongside Russian forces during a confrontation with Ukrainian troops. This incident marks the third Yemeni citizen to die in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Al-Sahmi, who served in the Yemeni diplomatic mission in Moscow until 2017, acquired Russian citizenship and later contracted with a military company. He had both Yemeni and Russian families. His Russian wife informed his Yemeni children of his death on the battlefield.
In addition to Al-Sahmi, two other Yemeni nationals have also lost their lives in the conflict. Asaad Tariq Abdul Latif Al-Kanani, a young Yemeni from the Al-Ma'afer district in Taiz Governorate, was killed in early May on the Luhansk front near the Russian border.
Al-Kanani, who resided in Moscow with his family, had recently acquired Russian citizenship and was studying at the Russian University of Peoples' Friendship.
In December 2023, Zubair Mohammed Ziyad, another Yemeni student, was the first Yemeni to be announced killed while fighting for the Russian army. Ziyad, originally from the Ibb Governorate, had also obtained Russian citizenship with his family.
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Russia has recruited thousands of young people, students, migrants, and residents to fight in its ranks in exchange for financial rewards and Russian citizenship for themselves and their families. This recruitment has included hundreds of Arabs.
On January 4, 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree allowing foreigners fighting for Russia in Ukraine to obtain Russian citizenship for themselves and their families. The decree stipulates that those who sign contracts during Moscow's "special military operation" in Ukraine can apply for Russian passports for themselves, their spouses, children, and parents. Applicants must provide documentation proving they have been registered with the army for at least one year, as reported by Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper.
