Exploring the journey of a former mercenary turned private military contractor and the exploitation of Nepali and Indian men in the industry. Delving into the desperate measures taken in Russia to fill military ranks in Ukraine and the risks associated with relying heavily on mercenaries in global conflicts, hinting at a potential shift in the world order towards non-state actors.
Desperately low on troops for its protracted war with Ukraine, the Russian military is relying on men from countries like India to fill its ranks. Journalist Shalu Yadav tells the story of a man who was tricked into joining the army and managed to escape.
This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Rob Byers, and guest-hosted by Haleema Shah.
Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained
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