A construction worker's passport going up in flames has become a symbol of one woman's apparent mission to funnel foreign men into Russia's war in Ukraine and leave them stuck there. Per a BBC investigation, "Omar," a 26-year-old Syrian who spoke under a pseudonym, says former Russian teacher Polina Alexandrovna Azarnykh lured him and other Arabs into signing army contracts through her Telegram channel, promising good pay, housing, and even noncombat roles in exchange for cash. Recruits and families told the BBC they knew they were entering military service but believed they would guard facilities or checkpoints, not be in front-line positions—and that they were never clearly told contracts could be extended under a 2022 decree until the war ends.
Author: Jenn Gidman with Newser.AI
Published at: 2026-01-18 20:44:00
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