More than 8,000 Tajiks are fighting in Ukraine on the side of Russia

A representative of the clergy in Russia noted that thousands of Tajiks are fighting on the side of Russia and condemned the fact that Tajiks in Russia have been linked to the terrorist attack at “Krokus.”

The chairman of the centralized religious organization “International Islamic Mission,” Shafik Pshikhachev, stated that currently 8,000 Tajiks are participating in the war in Ukraine.

“Today, 8,000 ethnic Tajiks are participating in the special military operation, but they remember the 19 people who carried out the terrorist attack at ‘Krokus,’” he said.

In his opinion, Russians need to support common values with people from the former Soviet republics. First and foremost, the memory of victory in the Great Patriotic War, where all citizens fought side by side, he noted.

Pshikhachev emphasized that the entire Russian population should not focus on the 19 Tajiks accused of the terrorist attack at “Krokus City Hall,” while thousands of other Tajiks risked their lives for the interests of Russia.
According to him, it is necessary to present a real and comprehensive picture of Tajik participation in the war against Ukraine.

Recently, the Ukrainian state project “I Want to Live” reported that among the citizens of the member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the largest number fighting alongside the Russian army in Ukraine are citizens of Tajikistan. According to the project, by the beginning of 2025, the names of 931 citizens of Tajikistan who signed contracts with the Ministry of Defense of Russia in 2023-2025 have been confirmed. Thus, Tajikistan ranks first among the Central Asian countries.   The list does not include the names of Tajiks who have been captured.

Among the names published by the project’s authors, the deaths of 196 Tajiks have been confirmed. 147 of them were killed in 2024.

According to this data, the youngest at the time of death had just reached adulthood – he was 18 years and 3 months old. The oldest contractor is currently 70 years old. The shortest service period from signing the contract was 7 days – he died exactly 7 days after signing.   According to the authors, the average lifespan of a contractor is approximately 140 days.

Some of those whose names appeared on the list had been convicted in Russia or were involved in administrative cases, against them protocols had been drawn up, or they had been in custody. The list also includes individuals included in the Russian “registry of controlled persons,” who faced deportation.

It should be noted that in recent years, there has been a rise in xenophobia and anti-migrant sentiment in Russia. Law enforcement agencies conduct mass raids on the streets, in hostels, cafes, and markets, where migrants are often treated brutally, beaten, and their patents or residence permits are revoked. This particularly affects citizens of Central Asian countries, including Tajikistan. They are also stripped of their residence permits and even citizenship for evading participation in the war in Ukraine.