War and video games are not just a game of Call of Duty in one’s living room. Since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has been increasing recruitment strategies to compensate for its massive human losses. Among them, infiltrating the world of video games to find mercenaries and drone pilots.
According to an investigation published by Business Insider Africa and Bloomberg on January 7, Russia is using video game platforms like Discord to recruit young South Africans and send them to fight in Ukraine. This was the case for two young players of Arma 3 – a realistic war simulation – who were contacted by a recruiter using the pseudonym @Dash on Discord. “The social aspect of video games allows for different relationships than traditional networks. We share an activity, a group. We develop partisan biases, a common goal, and become more influential in this context,” analyzes Carole Grimaud, a doctorate student in information sciences and a specialist in Russia.
After several exchanges, the three individuals met in Cape Town before heading to the Russian consulate. The two men left South Africa on July 29, 2024, via the United Arab Emirates. They were promised a generous sum, Russian citizenship, and the opportunity to continue their studies. A few weeks after signing their military contracts near St. Petersburg, one of them was killed fighting in the Luhansk region. The fate of the second individual remains unknown.
Context: Russia is recruiting individuals for military purposes through video games, using platforms like Discord to target young people for combat roles.
Fact Check: The content discusses how Russia is using video games for recruitment, specifically targeting individuals for military roles in conflicts like Ukraine.
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Note: The article mentions the exploitation of video games for military purposes, raising concerns about the recruitment of individuals, including minors, for combat roles.
