Russian President Vladimir Putin issued an order cracking down on people residing in the country illegally. The order gives migrants until the end of April the ability to secure legal status by paying off debts, passing health checks and taking an exam on the Russian language, history and law.
But there’s one other route to legal status: military service.
Migrants will have the option to sign a military contract, which could allow them to be drafted into Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Russia has previously turned to outside help, with thousands of North Korean soldiers joining the effort.
The Ukrainian government estimated last week that 3,000 North Korean troops have died or been wounded fighting for Russia.
Many in Russia migrate illegally from former Soviet republics in Central Asia. Russia’s government estimates there are at least one million people from other former Soviet republics living in the country illegally.
Putin’s recent order comes a month after a Kremlin spokesperson said it needs migrants to address an ongoing labor shortage, exacerbated by soldiers going to the front and others leaving to avoid getting drafted.
