SOCIETY

What Happened: Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it has been co-opting more and more mercenaries to join the fight, including an estimated 150 from India. But many of these men did not enlist voluntarily; they traveled to Russia thinking they would hold civilian jobs, only to be coerced into joining the army. At least 12 have died thus far, despite the Indian government’s efforts to pressure Russia for their return. In an investigative feature article, journalist James Beardsworth details the journeys of some of these men to Russia, their panic at realizing they were destined for the frontlines and – for some – their lucky escape back to India.

Our Focus: The men interviewed by Beardsworth for The Diplomat had many points of commonality. They were seeking lucrative employment abroad and were convinced by middlemen that Russia was a prime destination. Some were told they would be working for the Russian Army, but the recruiters swore they would be doing civilian jobs. Others were lured to Russia on entirely different premises. But all of them found themselves coerced into signing military contracts and thrust onto the frontlines with minimal training. “One guy showed me videos of his group, he said there were 117 people who took part in an assault and only 15 were alive [afterward]. After that, I was scared,” one interviewee shared. Adding insult to injury, all the interviewees reporting paying large sums to the middlemen who essentially trafficked them into the Russian Army.

What Comes Next: The plight of Indian men forced onto the battlefield became a diplomatic issue for India and Russia, which otherwise enjoy a positive relationship. As Indian nationals began dying in Russia’s war, the Modi government pressured Moscow to send Indians home. According to The Diplomat’s estimates, some 150 Indian joined the Russian Army between December 2023 and September 2024; “Of those men, around 80 have since been discharged and returned to India, documents show.” Even at home, they face dim prospects, having taken on debt to travel to Russia in the first place. But things could be worse. Twelve Indian have died in Ukraine, and at least 18 remain on the frontlines – 16 of whom are missing.

INTERVIEW

Natalie Gonnella-Platts and Albert Torres, authors of the “Taliban Travel Tracker” report at the George W. Bush Institute, on the lack of enforcement of travel bans on the Taliban: “Sanctioned Taliban leaders are actively traveling for both official and personal reasons. This includes international events, bilateral meetings, religious observances, and personal medical care… On several recent occasions, senior Taliban officials subject to 1988 Committee sanctions have traveled abroad without an exemption, with little scrutiny, and with limited, if any, repercussions.”

Northeast Asia

Nearly three years after Beijing’s security deal with the Solomon Islands sent shockwaves through the region, China has inked another controversial partnership in the Pacific Islands. The Cook Islands signed an “Action Plan for Comprehensive Strategic Partnership 2025-2030” with China. The agreement is expected to include construction of dual-use facilities as well as giving China access to the Cook Islands’ wealth of seabed minerals. The specifics of the deal remain unknown, as neither government has released the full text. Notably, the Cook Islands is in “Free Association” with New Zealand, but refused to consult with Wellington over its new partnership with Beijing.

South Asia

After nearly two years of deadly ethnic clashes in the Northeast Indian state of Manipur, president’s rule – meaning rule by the federal government – has been imposed. The move came days after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, who hails from the ruling BJP, resigned. Since early May of 2023, over 250 people have been killed and thousands displaced from their homes in violent clashes between Manipur’s Meitei majority and Kuki-Zo communities. Singh has been accused of not only failing to stop the violence but actively fueling the ethnic tensions.

Southeast Asia

Pritam Singh, the leader of the Workers’ Party and Singapore’s Leader of the Opposition, has been found guilty of lying to a Parliament committee, potentially jeopardizing his party’s chances in a general election that must be held by the end of the year. A court ruled that Singh lied to a parliamentary committee that was – ironically – investigating his handling of a fellow party member for lying to Parliament. Singh denied the charges and said he intends to appeal. The stakes are high for the 2025 election, as it will be the first time the long-ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) faces an election under its new leader, Lawrence Wong. The PAP saw its support drop 9 points in the 2020 general election. A similar dip this year could imperil its government – something never seen before in Singapore.

Central Asia

After a dozen years of incremental improvements, Uzbekistan's score in Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) witnessed a decline in 2024. Despite increased prosecution of corruption in some sectors, political sensitivities limit the full-scale tackling of higher-level corruption. And the Uzbek public doesn't necessarily condemn corruption, a product of Soviet-era norms and prioritization of self-interest. The progress made thus far nevertheless shows that change is possible, even if it is not linear.

Data for 2024 & 2022 are estimates
Source: Charity Blue Book, Amity Foundation

Donations to charity in China have been on a downward trend since the early stages of the pandemic, despite government efforts to cajole giving.

Politics

Bureaucratic reforms led by General Secretary To Lam of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), a bold move that could reshape the country’s governance.