 Russia recruits Crimean locals for its African operations. Moscow is actively recruiting so-called military instructors in occupied Ukrainian territories for subsequent deployment to Africa to expand its influence on the continent Ukraine's Defence Intelligence reported via Telegram. The Persistent Recruitment Campaign is ongoing in occupied territories of Ukraine, including Crimea. Military reservists, air defense specialists, sailors and others are offered lengthy, high-paying contracts. The opportunity to avoid participation in the war against Ukraine serves as another incentive to sign up. Ukraine's Defence Intelligence notes, Moscow views dispatching this force to Africa as a step towards expanding its influence there. The message said, Ukraine's National Resistance Centre reported in December 2023 that the Russian military was developing a programme to recruit fighters in Africa to participate in the war against Ukraine. In that time, on Telegram, the African Corps said it's prioritising the recruitment of Russians who previously fought in Ukraine as well as current and former Wagner mercenaries who make up around half of the corps personnel. The unit said it's looking for personnel who have various combat specialties including operating tanks, artillery pieces, drones, air defense systems and armoured fighting vehicles.