Russian Embassy in Tehran Denies Authenticity of Fake Recruitment Ads
The Russian Embassy in Tehran has firmly rejected the validity of a widely shared social media advertisement in Iran that claims to invite Iranian citizens to join the Russian military for financial rewards in the Ukraine conflict.
In an official statement released on its Telegram channel, the embassy noted that unidentified individuals seeking "profit" have recently disseminated a fraudulent message online. This purported message allegedly offers Iranian men and youth aged 18 to 45 contracts to serve in the so-called "special military operations zone" related to Ukraine in exchange for substantial monetary compensation.
The embassy cautioned against the nature of such messages, emphasizing that "this message and all similar communications are entirely fake and criminal in nature," and reaffirmed that "neither the embassy nor any official Russian entity is associated with this advertisement."
The statement urged Iranian citizens to "immediately inform the security authorities and police in Iran if they receive any alleged messages or advertisements attributed to the embassy," warning them against falling victim to scams. The embassy also clarified that any official communication occurs solely through its trusted and recognized channels and advised the public not to engage with unpublished advertisements or documents not disseminated through its official platforms.
According to details in the fraudulent advertisement titled "Recruitment in the Russian Army," applicants are offered an initial reward of $20,000 and a monthly salary of $2,000, along with full coverage of travel and visa expenses, as well as accommodation and meals. The tasks mentioned in the advertisement include "operating and managing drones."
The dissemination of this message through Persian-language social media has sparked negative reactions and skepticism among users, many of whom doubt the credibility of the advertisement.
This official denial comes as U.S. broadcaster Radio Free Europe noted in a commentary that "the recruitment of foreign mercenaries for the war in Ukraine typically occurs through unofficial channels or companies, and the Russian government does not necessarily recruit foreign mercenaries directly."
