Jordan has issued a sharp and unprecedented rebuke of Moscow, accusing Russia of illegally recruiting Jordanian citizens into its armed forces and putting their lives at extreme risk. The fierce diplomatic move comes after two Jordanians were reportedly killed while fighting alongside Russian troops in the ongoing war in Ukraine — a conflict now entering its third year.
The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered the warning in a forceful statement on Thursday, calling Russia’s recruitment practices a “violation of Jordanian law and international law” and urging immediate action to halt the enlistment of its nationals. The report was confirmed by AFP and relayed through TASR.
Jordan Warns: Recruitment Endangers Lives and Breaks the Law
According to the ministry, Jordanians who participate in foreign armies face not just the threat of death but also serious legal consequences. Under Jordanian law, joining a foreign military is strictly prohibited.
A ministry spokesperson urged all Jordanian citizens to report any attempts to recruit them into the Russian army. Officials also demanded that Moscow terminate any current military service involving Jordanians, including those who may already have been deployed to combat zones.
The statement highlighted growing concerns that recruitment is taking place both inside Russia and through online channels, targeting Jordanians living abroad or studying in Russian-speaking countries.
How Many Jordanians Are Being Recruited? Unknown — But the Potential Pool Is Large
Although the exact number of Jordanians enlisted by Russia remains unclear, unofficial estimates suggest that hundreds of Jordanians currently reside in Russia, and more than 20,000 have studied in former Soviet states. This sizable expatriate community offers a potentially vulnerable population for recruitment efforts.
Reports referenced by AFP also recall earlier Russian ambitions to bolster its manpower with foreign fighters. At the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 — when Moscow was backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad — Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he wanted to bring in up to 16,000 fighters from the Middle East.
Subsequent accounts claimed that around 2,000 Syrian soldiers were eventually transferred to Russia, though Moscow has consistently denied systematic foreign recruitment for front-line combat.
Growing Tensions and Regional Unease
Jordan’s unusually strong criticism signals rising regional concern about Russia’s recruitment tactics and the expanding international footprint of the war in Ukraine. Middle Eastern analysts warn that economic pressure, online propaganda, and promises of high military salaries could make young men in the region increasingly susceptible to recruitment attempts.
For now, Amman says it is monitoring the situation closely and will continue to push Moscow to stop recruiting Jordanians immediately — before more of its citizens return home in coffins.