On September 29, 2025, the Najaf Criminal Court in Iraq handed down a life sentence to Risan Falah Kamel, convicting him of human trafficking after he recruited Iraqi nationals to fight for Russia in its ongoing war against Ukraine. According to court officials and statements reported by outlets including Associated Press and Shafaq News, Kamel was found guilty of organizing and dispatching groups of Iraqis to serve as fighters on foreign soil, in exchange for financial compensation. The court’s ruling was issued under Iraq’s anti-human trafficking law, specifically referencing Article 6, paragraphs 3 and 7 of Human Trafficking Law No. 28 of 2012, which targets the exploitation of individuals in foreign conflicts.
The verdict, confirmed by both judicial and senior security officials who requested anonymity, marks a rare but significant use of Iraq’s anti-human trafficking legislation to address the growing phenomenon of citizens being lured into foreign wars. The Najaf Criminal Court’s official statement declared that Kamel “formed groups and sent them to fight in foreign countries in exchange for financial compensation.” The court emphasized that such actions violated Iraqi law, which prohibits the recruitment and transportation of citizens for combat roles abroad, particularly when motivated by profit.
Kamel’s conviction comes at a time when the international dimensions of the Russia-Ukraine conflict have become increasingly complex. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, thousands of foreign fighters have joined both sides of the conflict. The recruitment of Iraqis, however, has drawn particular attention in recent months. Earlier in September 2025, Iraq’s parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee publicly acknowledged the presence of Iraqis fighting alongside Russian forces. The committee announced it would launch an investigation into the matter, aiming to stem the tide of Iraqi nationals becoming entangled in the war.
Media reports, including those from Shafaq News, suggest that more than 5,000 young Iraqis may have been recruited to fight in Russia and Ukraine since the conflict’s outbreak. Many of these individuals initially traveled to Moscow under the guise of tourism or used Russia as a transit point en route to Europe. The lure of financial gain has been a powerful motivator, with Russian law allowing foreign residents who speak Russian to sign official military contracts. These contracts reportedly offer monthly salaries ranging from $2,500 to $3,000—a significant sum for many Iraqis facing limited economic opportunities at home.
The involvement of Iraqis in Russia’s ranks is not an isolated phenomenon. The war has drawn in foreign nationals from across the globe, with both the Russian and Ukrainian armies benefiting from international recruitment. According to Ukrainian officials, as reported by Associated Press and Shafaq News, significant numbers of Chinese nationals have been identified fighting for Russia. Ukrainian intelligence claims to have gathered detailed information on more than 150 mercenaries allegedly recruited by Moscow via social media platforms. China, for its part, has categorically denied these allegations, insisting on its neutrality and support for diplomatic solutions.
The internationalization of the conflict does not end there. American and South Korean officials have confirmed that North Korea has sent thousands of troops and large quantities of ammunition to support Russia on the battlefield. This support has been particularly notable in the Russian border region of Kursk, where North Korean forces reportedly aided in repelling a Ukrainian incursion in August 2024. In April 2025, Pyongyang officially acknowledged its involvement, stating that troops had been dispatched under a mutual defense treaty ratified with Russia in late 2024. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, in a statement carried by state media, praised the deployed soldiers, saying, “They who fought for justice are all heroes and representatives of the honour of the motherland.”
The strategic partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang has deepened in recent months. In early September 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un met in Beijing, where both leaders lauded the growing military cooperation between their countries. Kim expressed his willingness to further assist Russia, calling it a “fraternal duty” and promising to “do everything possible to help.” This mutual support has raised concerns among Western governments and added another layer of complexity to the already convoluted geopolitics of the conflict.
Other nations have also seen their citizens drawn into the war. Reports indicate that over a thousand Cubans have joined Russian forces, with total foreign recruits possibly reaching 20,000. Earlier, Ukrainian forces captured Togolese nationals fighting for Russia, many of whom were allegedly lured by deceptive offers of scholarships from organizations claiming to be based in Russia. According to UNN and AP News, these young Togolese were promised educational opportunities but instead found themselves on the front lines.
Meanwhile, Ukraine itself has attracted a significant number of foreign volunteers. Early in the war, Ukrainian officials claimed that more than 20,000 people from 52 countries had come to help defend the country against Russian aggression. However, the exact number of foreign fighters currently serving in the Ukrainian military has since been classified, reflecting the sensitive nature of their involvement and the risks they face.
The Najaf Criminal Court’s decision to impose a life sentence on Risan Falah Kamel stands out as a stern warning to others who might consider exploiting Iraqis for profit by sending them into foreign conflicts. The ruling also highlights Iraq’s determination to uphold its laws and protect its citizens from being drawn into wars that serve interests far removed from their own. As the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council noted, the case underscores the dangers of international human trafficking networks that thrive in times of conflict and instability.
While the court’s verdict addresses one aspect of the foreign fighter phenomenon, the broader issue remains unresolved. The ongoing war in Ukraine continues to attract combatants from around the world, each drawn by a mix of ideology, necessity, and, all too often, financial desperation. For Iraq, the challenge now is to ensure that its citizens are not further exploited by these global networks—and that justice, as in the case of Risan Falah Kamel, is served when they are.