Social media such as TikTok and Telegram are used for recruitment, according to an investigation. Offers on Telegram are tailored to younger recipients who are promised favorable financial conditions. They include a monthly salary of four times the salary in the Iraqi army, i.e. PLN 2,800. dollars, and a one-time payment after joining the Russian armed forces in the amount of up to PLN 20,000. dollars. In addition, Iraqis are offered, among others: Russian passports, insurance or pensions.
The creators of such accounts provide comprehensive assistance in arranging travel and visas for going to Russia and joining the army there. They also provide a ready-made list of important military terms in Russian, such as: “ammunition runs out”, “mission accomplished”, “we have casualties” and “suicide drone attack”. There is also no shortage of accounts offering other similar services, including assistance in sending money earned to families in Iraq.
The agency noted that similar methods had previously been used by Russians to recruit young men from Central and South Asian countries and Cuba.
In addition to encouragement for potential recruits, there are numerous comments on social media from families looking for their loved ones with whom they have lost contact. They often receive conflicting information about what is happening to their loved ones – sometimes from the prosaic that they are suffering from the flu, to the worst – that they died on the front in Ukraine.
See also: Russia introduces year-round military conscription. Putin signed the amendment
Iraq's history has been full of conflicts, especially in the 21st century. First, there was the American invasion, and then the rise of the Islamic State broke out, which greatly weakened this state. The Iraqis also defended Shiite places of worship in Syria, where they fought alongside the Russians.
However, serving in the Russian army and fighting on the front in Ukraine is associated by many people with the word “mercenary”, which has a particularly pejorative meaning in Arabic. For this reason, many local communities consider such service to be a disgrace to the entire community. Often the taboo is so great that families are either harassed or even have to leave their current places of residence – also reports AFP.
See also: This is what the defense of a NATO “front” country is supposed to look like. We were there for key exercises
