- Britain has imposed 35 new sanctions targeting Russian networks accused of trafficking vulnerable people from Africa and the Middle East.
- These networks reportedly lure individuals from countries including Nigeria, Syria, and Yemen with false promises, only to send them to fight on the front lines in Ukraine.
- The sanctions also target entities involved in recruiting people from Africa and Asia to work in Russian drone factories, such as the Alabuga Start Programme.
- Among those sanctioned are individuals like Polina Azarnykh and Elena Smirnova for recruitment, and companies involved in the drone industry, including Chinese and Thai businesses.
- The measures follow a report by the International Federation for Human Rights, which revealed Russia has recruited at least 27,000 foreign fighters since 2022, with many suffering poor conditions.
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