Moscow (South24) 

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A circulating video has surfaced showing at least nine young Yemeni men stranded in an undisclosed location in Russia, pleading for help after being deceived and exploited as mercenaries in the Russian-Ukrainian war.

One of the men, speaking in the video, stated that they arrived in Russia through contracts signed with the ‘Al-Jabri Company’ in Oman, which had promised them employment with a security company. Instead they were sent to active battlefronts as mercenaries.

The group of men appeared in military uniforms inside what appeared to be a tent. One of the young men, speaking on their behalf, revealed that their case is currently being heard in court after they refused to participate in combat operations for Russia.

بعد التحري
تبين أن الشركة التي غررت بمجاميع من اليمنيين وأرسلتهم إلى #روسيا للقتال تتبع #الحوثيين ويديرها المدعو محمد عبدالسلام، وتنشط منذ سنوات في تهريب السلاح للمليشيا تحت ستار أنشطة تجارية pic.twitter.com/2Ihyst4UG0

— صلاح بن لغبر (@benlaghbar) October 1, 2024

They appealed to the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council and Saudi Arabia for assistance in returning home.

In a separate video, another group of young Yemenis recounted how they were exploited by the Al-Jabri Company with fraudulent contracts, which ultimately led to their involvement in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict as mercenaries.

"We were working in the Sultanate of Oman in restaurants and various businesses,” one of the men said. “Al-Jabri's Company told us there was a security company in Russia that wanted personnel and that we would receive $10,000 plus a monthly salary of $2,500.”

"Upon our arrival at the airport in Russia, we were met by military personnel from the Ministry of Defense,” he continued. “They assured us that our work would be as security guards and confined us to a fenced area for two days. Then, they came with military uniforms," he added.

He further claimed that they were deceived by the Russian military and underwent military training, moving between various camps for two and a half months. They received only $4,000 out of the promised $10,000 and were paid a monthly salary of just 20,000 rubles ($200).

The men claimed that they were stationed just an hour away from the front lines with Ukrainian forces, and gunfire could be heard in the background of the video.

Press reports have linked Houthi leader Mohammed Abdul Salam to Al-Jabri's Company and the recruitment of Yemeni mercenaries for Russia. However, South24 Center has not been able to verify these claims with any independent source nor did Russian or Omani authorities comment on these allegations. 

The Sultanate of Oman, which maintains strong relations with the Houthis, is currently hosting a political delegation led by Mohammed Abdul Salam.