Lhe Kremlin would not hesitate to cross new borders to strengthen its ranks on the Ukrainian front. After calling on North Korean soldiers, Russian authorities also reportedly recruited Houthi fighters from Yemen. According to an investigation by Financial Timesaround two hundred Houthis were reportedly sent to Russia as early as last July, where they underwent minimal preparation before being sent to Ukraine.
If this information is confirmed, it would corroborate Moscow's desire to expand its recruitment internationally. Indeed, faced with daily human losses estimated at more than a thousand soldiers killed or wounded, the use of foreign fighters could avoid a new wave of mobilization, like that of September 2022.
Negotiations to integrate these foreign fighters would be facilitated by Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer with a notorious reputation. According to Le Figarothis man, recently exchanged by the United States for basketball player Brittney Griner, could play a central role in discussions with the Yemeni rebels. However, the Kremlin strongly rejected these accusations, calling them “attempted informational attacks.”
Strategic cooperation
This international cooperation is not limited to the simple recruitment of mercenaries. It is part of a context of increasingly close diplomatic and military rapprochement between Moscow and the Houthi movement. Since 2022, the Houthis have supported Russia's recognition of the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, three days before the invasion of Ukraine began.
In January 2024, a Houthi delegation was received in Moscow to discuss ways to intensify pressure on the United States and Israel, particularly over the war in Gaza. At the same time, Russia has stepped up its support for the Houthi movement, already allied with Iran, as part of their growing cooperation on several geopolitical fronts.
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The site Medusa recently discussed secret negotiations in Tehran, where Russians and Houthis discussed the supply of Russian weapons, including 9M133 Kornet anti-tank missiles and AKS20U assault rifles. These weapons, already used by Russian forces, have been spotted in the Houthis' war equipment, reflecting the intensification of ties between the two camps.
This strategic alliance could have significant implications for the region. By supporting the Houthis in Yemen and strengthening their position in Syria, Moscow seeks to consolidate its influence in this crucial geopolitical zone. The rapprochement with this group, an ally of Iran, would also be a way for Russia to position itself against Western interests and to counter the influence of the United States and its allies in the Middle East.
