ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Ukraine is working “closely” with Iraqi authorities to address the recruitment of Iraqi citizens by Russia to fight in the war against Ukraine, Kyiv’s ambassador to Iraq said on Sunday, amid growing concern in Baghdad over Iraqis joining foreign armies.
“This is extremely sensitive and painful matter,” Ivan Dovhanich told Rudaw's Nalin Hassan. “I feel great sorrow for the young Iraqi men whom Russia has deceived and coerced into fighting a war that is not their own, and who are being sent without mercy into hopeless assaults.”
In late December, Iraq’s National Security Advisor, Qasim al-Araji, stated that “hundreds of Iraqis” are fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Dovhanich said Ukraine views the recruitment of Iraqis as a crime.
“What Russia is doing by recruiting Iraqi youth is a crime against those Iraqi Arab boys, a crime against their families, and ultimately an act of contempt towards Iraq itself,” he said, adding that Kyiv is working “closely” with Baghdad. “The resolve with which the Iraqi government is fighting against the trafficking of its own citizens commands Ukraine's deepest respect.”
The Iraqi government has decided to tighten legal and security measures against any citizen who joins foreign national armies, particularly those involved in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
On Wednesday, Araji chaired a meeting where officials agreed to activate provisions of Iraq’s penal code that mandate imprisonment for any citizen who joins a foreign army without prior authorization from the relevant authorities.
There is no precise data on how many Iraqis are currently participating in the war.
The ambassador said estimates suggest between 15,000 and 20,000 foreign nationals are fighting in the Russian army, with more than half from North Korea. Others, he said, come from Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. “They are recruited, brutally recruited by Russians. Russia has turned itself into a global broker of this.”
Dovhanich said he has no information indicating Iraqi citizens are fighting for Ukraine. “My authorities, my Ukrainian agencies, told me that they don't have any information about Iraqi citizens fighting for Ukraine,” he said, noting that foreign volunteers from over 50 countries serving with Ukrainian forces come “of their own free will, driven by personal conviction.”
More than four years have passed since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, which has resulted in significant civilian casualties. With US mediation, diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have intensified, though prospects for a breakthrough remain uncertain. Moscow has repeatedly demanded full control over all Ukrainian territories it currently occupies.
The following is the transcript for the full interview with Ivan Dovhanich:
Rudaw: To start, four years have passed since the beginning of this war between Russia and Ukraine. What is the current state of the Ukrainian army?
Ivan Dovhanich: Thank you for the question. Ukraine now has one of the most battle-hardened and battle-capable armies in Europe and perhaps in the world because these four years of full-scale hard war have forged the Ukrainian army into an experienced, highly motivated force with a high spirit. We are fighting on our own soil, and that is our greatest strength.
During these four years, how many of your cities, towns, and villages have you lost?
You know, war started in 2014 when Russia occupied Crimea, altogether for this period of time, Russia temporarily occupies approximately 20 percent of the Ukraine's sovereign territory. Crimea, parts of Donetsk region, and some neighboring regions, but no occupation is permanent. We have liberated Kherson city, the Kharkiv region, and parts of the Zaporizhzhia region, and the Ukrainian army pressed on.
What percentage of Ukrainian territory is currently under Russian control?
I told you before that now, starting from 2014, Russia occupies approximately 20 percent of Ukraine's sovereign territory
On another note, Ukraine's infrastructure has also been targeted in the war over the past four years. The lack of electricity is now a major problem for the Ukrainian people. Have you received any efforts or promises from your allied countries to resolve this issue?
Thank you very much, because really our infrastructure is seriously damaged during this war, but anyway, Ukraine is able to adapt, for adaptation. Moreover, we have huge significant support from our partners abroad, and Ukrainian economy is showing capability to grow in these very difficult circumstances.
Holding elections is another demand from the Ukrainian people themselves. Will elections be held this year? Should this happen?
I'm not sure that Ukrainian people are asking for elections, because everyone understood that during this war, during such a war, it's very difficult to have a real open democratic elections, having a lot of our people abroad, having some part of territories, of Ukrainian territories with Ukrainian inhabitants under occupation. So, my feeling is that majority of Ukrainians are asking for elections after the war, but not during the war.
What impact has the Trump administration's policy toward Ukraine had on your forces' capabilities?
We are grateful to American administration, personally to Mr. Trump, for his efforts, because he is a world leader, and he has real means and levels in his hands to stop this absolutely senseless war. Any reduction of suspension of American support is a serious challenge for Ukraine, but as I told you, Ukraine adapts.
We rely on our own defense products, on European, Europe's support, and on our belief that the United States will ultimately recognize this truth. Supporting Ukraine is not a charity. It is a sound investment in global security.
You mentioned European assistance to Ukraine. The assistance is certainly ongoing. Is this it sufficient, and does it enable you to continue in the war?