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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Samya Kullab

Bangladeshi workers lured to Russia for jobs tricked into fighting brutal war in Ukraine

Maksudur Rahman, 31, who escaped after fighting for the Russian army, poses during an interview with the Associated Press in Lakshmipur, Bangladesh, Dec. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Rajib Dhar) - (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

A Bangladeshi man, Maksudur Rahman, was reportedly lured from his tropical homeland to Russia with the promise of a janitorial job, only to find himself thrust onto the front lines of the war in Ukraine within weeks.

An investigation by The Associated Press has uncovered a pattern where Bangladeshi workers are enticed to Russia under false pretences of civilian employment, subsequently coerced into combat roles.

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