Russia has been attempting to replace "significant losses" by recruiting soldiers from African countries, the UK's defence ministry has said.
Ukrainian intelligence has been reporting increased Russian efforts to recruit from several African countries in recent days.
"This recruitment campaign is likely an attempt to replace significant battlefield losses and sustain offensive activity across the front," the MoD said.
"Russia is likely expanding its recruitment across the global south to avoid additional mobilisations within Russian itself."
It added that previous mobilisations within Russia had resulted in a record labour shortage and the mass departure of skilled workers.
