Russia reportedly recruiting Afghan soldiers

A massive assault of Russian missile and drone strikes hit Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities Monday morning, damaging critical infrastructure. Russia on Monday also withdrew from an agreement to allow the safe transport of grain out of Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea because of an attack on its fleet there. Still, 12 ships left Ukrainian ports despite Russian threats not to allow them safe passage.

How is the war going for Russia? Three former Afghan generals confirmed to the Associated Press on Monday that Russia wants to attract thousands of elite former Afghan special forces operatives into a “foreign legion.” Russia is promising pay of $1,500 a month and safe haven for the commandos and their families so they can avoid deportation home—to what many assume would be death at the hands of the Taliban. One of the generals, Abdul Raof Arghandiwal, added that the soldiers did not want to fight, “but they have no choice.”

Dig deeper: Listen to my report on The World and Everything in It podcast from last year about how the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan reopened the wounds of war for many.