According to the Defense Intelligence of Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the Kremlin is trying to use the resources of Central Asian countries in the war against Ukraine. First of all, the Russian Federation is interested in the possibility of replenishing its stocks of Soviet ammunition and spare parts for military equipment.
Recently, the Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation of the Russian Federation contacted the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Tajikistan with a request to transfer 220-mm rockets for Uragan MLRSs.
Read more: Russia to Buy Artillery Shells and Missiles in North Korea
Russians are also interested in ammunition for 203-mm self-propelled Pion guns and UTD-20 engines for BMP-1 and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles. Tajikistan has large stocks of these in military warehouses.
In addition, retired military personnel and employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan have been receiving offers proposing that they sign a contract with the Russian Armed Forces and take part in the war against Ukraine.
A recruitment campaign is underway in the Kyrgyz Republic, too.
Graduates of the Bishkek Higher Military School are finding messages appearing in their chats with offers to work under contract for the Russian army or one of the Russian private military companies.
Similar recruitment messages are being distributed across the republic in professional chat groups of former military personnel and employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
As previosly The New York Times reports, Russia is buying millions of artillery shells and missiles from North Korea.
The purchase of munitions from North Korea shows that global sanctions have severely limited supply chains, so Moscow is forced to go to the rogue state for weapons.
Read more: What the U.S. Says About Ukraine’s Military Successes, Has russian Army Drown Any Conclusions
