Russia has launched a propaganda drive targeting German speakers for its army, and for its Wagner mercenary force, in the latest case of Vladimir Putin seeking ethnic minorities for cannon fodder.
In recent months, a string of organisations claiming to represent the interests of ethnic Germans in Russia have been bombarding the minority group with war propaganda, with a particular emphasis on attracting youngsters.
The disclosure is disturbing and potentially embarrassing for Berlin, as Russia is in effect weaponising German culture against Ukraine. Germany is also grappling with espionage at home, with plots involving Russian-German dual citizens including a recent conspiracy in Bavaria to blow up military sites which deliver support to Ukraine.
An estimated 400,000 Russian-Germans, or “Russlanddeutsche”, live in Russia. They faced severe persecution during the Soviet era and are still marginalised by the Kremlin.
The Telegraph has seen propaganda material issued by the Tomsk Regional Russian-German House. It bears the entwined flags of Germany and Russia and urges ethnic Germans to donate to the armed forces and attend free pro-war concerts.
Other groups, such as the Novosibirsk Regional Russian-German House, have co-hosted pro-invasion summits. Young Russian-German men have faced calls to sign up to Wagner en masse, with one Russian-German community leader taunting them about proving they were not cowards.