34 Bangladeshis killed in Russia–Ukraine war

At least 34 Bangladeshi have been killed after being recruited into the Russian armed forces and sent to the frontlines of the war in Ukraine, according to a new report published in March 2026.

The report, titled “I Was Tricked into the War,” was jointly released by human rights organizations Fortify Rights and Truth Hounds. It alleges that many Bangladeshi men were deceived by brokers with promises of civilian jobs abroad, only to be forced into military service after arriving in Russia. The report was published on March 3, 2026.

According to data cited in the report, at least 104 Bangladeshi nationals were recruited into the Russian army, and 34 of them have died while serving in the conflict.

Deceptive recruitment

The investigation found that many recruits were offered jobs such as cleaners or support workers in Europe. However, after reaching Russia—often via third countries such as the United Arab Emirates—they were allegedly forced to sign contracts written in Russian that they could not understand.

Soon after arrival, the men were reportedly transported to military facilities and given brief training before being deployed to the battlefield in Ukraine. Some survivors said they were sent to combat with little or no preparation and were unable to leave the army once they realized the nature of the work.

Abuse and coercion

Several individuals interviewed in the report claimed that passports were confiscated and that those who resisted orders faced beatings, threats, and withheld salaries. Families in Bangladesh were also left in heavy debt after paying large recruitment fees to brokers.

Bangladeshi police officials told the researchers that human trafficking networks are exploiting economic hardship and unemployment, particularly among young men from rural areas, to lure them into risky migration schemes.

Calls for action

The report urges the government of Bangladesh to crack down on trafficking syndicates, support victims and their families, and raise international awareness about the issue. It also calls on Russia to investigate recruitment practices that may amount to human trafficking.

Researchers warn that the actual number of Bangladeshis involved in the war may be higher, as many cases remain undocumented due to the difficulty of tracking migrants who traveled abroad through irregular channels.