France, Jan. 22 -- "Are you young, healthy and between the ages of 18 and 40? Sign a contract with the Russian Federal Army. The reward: a signing bonus of between $8,000 and $30,000, and a salary of nearly $3,000 [€2,500] per month."

The advertisement is accompanied by an image of a soldier in action, in a dark and dramatic setting, wearing a modern uniform, tactical vest and helmet and carrying a sophisticated combat rifle.

Messages like these, aimed at potential recruits in the Middle East, can be seen regularly on Telegram groups, accompanied by telephone numbers with the Russian country code (+7).

One of these groups is namedSadiq Rossia -"friend of Russia" in Arabic.

Recruits are promised a Russian passport, which means th...