Egypt mandates gov’t approval for travel to Russia, Ukraine to prevent recruitment into war

The Egyptian government has reportedly updated its regulations for Egyptian citizens aiming to travel to Russia and Ukraine, in an effort to prevent nationals from being recruited into fighting in the war between them.

According to the New Arab, Egyptian authorities are currently implementing new regulations that would make it mandatory for nationals – particularly those between the ages of 18 and 35 – to attain approval from government and security services to travel to Russia and Ukraine.

The move follows on from reported warnings made by Egyptian lawmakers and security figures of the potential for young Egyptians to be recruited into either the Russian or Ukrainian militaries, especially during their travels or during their periods of study or work within those countries – often with tempting incentives.

Those fears are reported to derive from a video published by a Ukrainian journalist last month showing an interview with an Egyptian national who was fighting for the Russian army but captured by Ukrainian forces.

Saying that he had been imprisoned back in Russia for illegally working to pay for his university fees, the Egyptian man revealed he was offered a release and a guarantee of Russian citizenship if he signed a contract to join the Russian military and fight in Ukraine.

It was a process undergone by many stranded foreigners – as well as incarcerated Russians themselves – over the past three years, as Moscow increasingly seeks reinforcement for its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Ibrahim Al-Masri, a member of the Committee on Defence and National Security in the Egyptian parliament, was quoted by the outlet as calling the new regulations “important for the protection of Egypt’s national security”.

Highlighting that such nationals who fight in Ukraine could pose a national security threat upon their return years later, he said that “some Egyptian students become prey for temptations, which quickly turns them into mercenaries involved in proxy wars.”

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