In a shocking revelation, evidence obtained by the BBC indicates that Russia is actively recruiting foreign migrants detained at its border with Finland for military service in Ukraine. This practice, which involves coercing individuals in pre-deportation detention centers to sign contracts for army service, has reportedly increased in scale due to the influx of migrants arriving at the 1,340-km (833-mile) border.

Finland, in response to this surge in migrants, temporarily closed all eight of its Russian border crossings, accusing Moscow of using the situation as part of a destabilization campaign after Finland joined NATO earlier this year.

An analysis of court hearings in three Russian regions bordering Finland—Karelia, Leningrad, and Murmansk—revealed that over the past three weeks alone, 236 people were arrested for residing in Russia without valid visas and faced deportation. Among those appearing in court in Karelia, a Somali man in his 40s was arrested in mid-November, fined 2,000 roubles (£17; €20), and detained for deportation.

At the pre-deportation center in Petrozavodsk, Karelia's capital, the Somali man, along with other inmates, was approached by military representatives shortly after their arrest. They were promised attractive incentives, including good pay, medical care, and permission to stay in Russia upon completion of a one-year army contract.

The surge in migrants trying to reach Finland through the Russian border became apparent in November, with unprecedented numbers of migrants applying for refugee status. Finnish authorities accused Russia of facilitating this influx and bypassing the usual visa checks for travelers entering the border zone.

To make matters worse, migrants were provided with brand new bicycles to cover the last stretch of the Russian border zone, circumventing Russia's ban on approaching its border posts on foot. Finland eventually closed its last border crossing on November 29, although plans to reopen it later this month are underway.

The detained migrants, mainly from Somalia, Arab countries, and Cuba, were presented with job contracts in Russian, a language they did not understand. Fearing deportation to their home countries, where their lives were in danger, they signed the offers, believing they would be given army-related work inside Russia. However, they were instead transported to a military camp on the Ukrainian border, where they were informed that they were being sent to fight.

The BBC has reached out to Russia's interior ministry in Karelia for information on the number of inmates released from such detention centers, but has yet to receive a response. Human rights activists have also reported similar cases, including an Iraqi man who claimed he was pressured to sign an army contract to avoid deportation.

This disturbing revelation raises serious concerns about the treatment of migrants and the recruitment tactics employed by Russia. The BBC continues to seek comments from the Russian interior ministry regarding the allegations of offering army contracts to foreign detainees in exchange for their release.