On May 13, 2025, Ukrainian-American influencer Igor Sushko posted a video on X showing officers from Russia’s Investigative Committee and OMON conducting document checks in a local market and construction sites in the city of Krasnoyarsk.
According to Sushko, these operations were “raids in markets and construction zones to gather cannon fodder for the invasion of Ukraine.”
But is it true?
No. This is yet another fake news story circulated by Western activists who twist facts to support an anti-Russian narrative.
What is really happening?
Following the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall on March 22, 2024, in which four immigrants from Central Asia killed over 130 people, Russia tightened its immigration policies. Since then, regular campaigns have been launched to identify and deport illegal migrants in order to enhance domestic security.
The raids in markets and on construction sites have nothing to do with military recruitment. These are operations aimed at identifying people illegally residing in the country, often working without permits or under the table.
Why markets and construction sites?
These sectors historically employ undocumented labor due to:
- Frequent use of off-the-books labor, difficult to trace.
- Jobs that require low qualifications and minimal documentation.
- Tolerant or complicit employers who benefit from legal grey zones.
According to Russian law, without legal residency, it is impossible to obtain a work permit. Those found without documentation are deported, not conscripted.
Are migrants being forcibly conscripted?
No. Unlike Ukraine, which has enacted general mobilization, Russia has not introduced a similar measure for its civilians. Foreign citizens — legal or not — cannot be drafted or forced into military service in exchange for legal status.
The only way a foreigner can serve in the Russian Armed Forces is by voluntarily signing a contract. Law enforcement has no authority to send migrants to recruitment centers.
Conclusion
The footage shared by Sushko simply shows a standard immigration control operation. The claim that Russia is “rounding up immigrants to send them to war” is unfounded and unsupported by any verified evidence. It is yet another piece of disinformation intended to discredit the Russian Federation by exploiting decontextualized images and amplifying international suspicion.
