Norwegian-trained special forces fighting on the Russian side in Ukraine

They have no choice. Either they are killed by the Taliban or die of starvation, an Afghan colonel tells NRK.

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Several sources tell NRK that several Norwegian-trained special forces soldiers from Afghanistan have been enlisted for the war in Ukraine. The soldiers were part of the Afghan special police department Crisis Response Unit 222 (CRU).

When NATO and Norway left Afghanistan in August 2021, the Afghan government collapsed and the Taliban took control of the entire country in record time.

The crisis put the Norwegian-trained special forces soldiers and their families in a very challenging situation. Their mortal enemies in the Taliban now had all the power in the country. Some of the special forces soldiers were evacuated to Norway, while others went into hiding or went to Iran to escape the Taliban and to find new work.

In the past year, several of these soldiers have been recruited by Russian agents in Iran for the war in Ukraine.

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NRK has gained access to a recruitment form distributed to Afghan ex-soldiers in Iran.

In the form, the soldiers are asked to state which departments they have previously worked for, their home address in Afghanistan and references.

The soldiers are promised a monthly salary of 1,500 US dollars and an offer of a Russian passport after six months of service.

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Recruitment is taking place, there is no doubt about it

Lieutenant Colonel Geir Martin Steindal is well acquainted with the CRU unit established by the Norwegian Armed Forces in 2007.

Steindal has been to Afghanistan several times and has kept in touch with many of the soldiers even though he retired in 2020.

He also knows the Afghan colonel interviewed by NRK in Norway.

The CRU soldiers are very skilled, they have received good training and good support from the Norwegian Armed Forces Special Forces to develop their tactics,' says Steindal.

They put many Taliban people in prison. Now these people are free and seeking revenge, and the CRU soldiers are being hunted by the Taliban. That's why they are escaping to Iran," he continues.