Apart from North Korea, another country is actively helping Russia with soldiers in the war.

According to the project 'I Want to Live', during 2025, at least 742 citizens of Belarus became mercenaries in the Russian army. Some of them have Russian citizenship, so the total number of Belarusians participating in the war against Ukraine may be even higher.

While for other donor countries, the motivation for mercenaries is poverty, for citizens of Belarus it is rather an ideological component. Belarus lives in an information space with Russia, thus men believe in the propaganda tales about 'Nazis in Ukraine' and fight for the 'common Soviet past'. They are not deterred even by the threat of imprisonment for mercenarism under Belarusian law.

The project points to the tacit agreement of the self-proclaimed president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, with the participation of his country's citizens in the Russian army: 'Lukashenko is not worried that Russia uses his people as cannon fodder in military actions that he does not need. According to our data, at least 96 Belarusian citizens who fought on the side of Russia have died.'

The project urges Belarusians not to join the Russian army and not to fall for propaganda: 'This war will not become yours. Two tyrants exchange the lives of thousands of people to maintain their power. If you get caught in the meat grinder in Ukraine, contact the project 'I Want to Live'. They will help you.'

North Korea's Reaction and Prisoners from China

Russia officially acknowledged the participation of North Korean troops in the war against Ukraine. In response, North Korea also confirmed sending its troops to support Russia. Furthermore, Ukrainian military captured two citizens of China who participated in combat actions on the side of the Russian army.