# Dominican recruitment for Russian military

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/dominican-recruitment-for-russian-military
> Updated: 2026-09-25T11:05:07.000Z. Sources: 14. Developments: 3.

Reports have emerged regarding the recruitment of Dominican citizens into the Russian military, specifically involving 28-year-old Juan Carlos Ávila Espaillat. After posting social media videos claiming to be fighting for the Russian Army in Ukraine, Ávila Espaillat was identified as having signed a military contract, according to documents attributed to the Russian Ministry of Defense.

His family, located in the Higüey and Bávaro regions, stated they were misled into believing he was traveling to Russia for employment, such as a job as a welder, after meeting a Russian woman. His brother, Óscar Fabián Ávila Espaillat, translated a Russian contract confirming his brother passed a selection process to serve in the military. Concerns have been raised regarding potential human trafficking and deceptive recruitment methods, with reports suggesting individuals may be routed through third countries like Brazil or Turkey.

Following reports that Ávila Espaillat is currently injured but intends to return to the front lines, his family has appealed to Dominican President Luis Abinader and the Dominican Embassy in Russia to intervene and facilitate his return to the Dominican Republic. In response to the situation, the Dominican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MIREX) issued a warning to citizens regarding suspicious job offers in Russia, urging the public to verify the legitimacy of employers and contract conditions to avoid involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-25: Dominican national fighting in Ukraine seeks return to front despite family pleas

The family of Dominican national Juan Carlos Ávila, fighting for Russia in Ukraine, is requesting President Luis Abinader's help to bring him home following an injury.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-national-fighting-in-ukraine-seeks-return-to-front-despite-family-pleas

### 2026-09-17: Dominican man joins Russian military after deceptive job offer

A Dominican man, Juan Carlos Ávila Espaillat, has reportedly joined the Russian military after traveling to the country under the impression he was seeking employment as a welder.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-man-joins-russian-military-after-deceptive-job-offer

### 2026-09-15: Dominican citizen claims to fight for Russian Army in Ukraine

Dominican citizen Juan Carlos Ávila Espaillat has gone viral after posting videos claiming to fight for the Russian Army in Ukraine, prompting calls for investigations into foreign recruitment tactics.

10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-citizen-claims-participation-in-russian-military-operations

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Cite as: Dominican recruitment for Russian military. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/dominican-recruitment-for-russian-military