Vietnamese National Reportedly Killed Fighting for Russia in Ukraine

Authorities in the city of Khasavyurt, in Russia's Dagestan Republic, have indicated that a Vietnamese national, identified as Can Van Binh (potentially Cấn Văn Bình), may have died fighting for Russia in Ukraine. Investigations by the BBC have uncovered two reports from Khasavyurt city administration detailing his recruitment and subsequent death while fighting for the Russian military. Mr. Binh could be among over 1,500 foreign nationals from dozens of countries who have reportedly died fighting for the Russian army since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. The Vietnamese government has never publicly acknowledged its citizens participating in the Russian military or dying in this capacity. A post on the official Khasavyurt Telegram channel dated June 4, 2024, described Mr. Binh as a "Vietnamese citizen" residing in the city. He reportedly met with Khasavyurt Mayor Korgoli Korgoliyev to express his "desire to join the special military operation," the term Russia uses for its war in Ukraine. Mayor Korgoliyev reportedly thanked Mr. Binh for his "heroic spirit," emphasizing it as a "brave and honorable act by a person not standing aside in the fight against neo-fascism." The city administration pledged support for Mr. Binh as a "volunteer," including financial assistance and other necessities. However, the announcements did not specify the nature of these support measures or the timeline of Mr. Binh's enlistment or his deployment on the battlefield. The justification of "denazification" is one of the main reasons cited by Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, a claim widely rejected internationally. More than a year later, on June 18, 2025, the Khasavyurt administration announced on Telegram that Mr. Binh had "died in the line of duty" and a ceremony was held to posthumously award him the "Order of Courage." His wife and brother met with the acting mayor, Arslan Arslanov, and other city officials. The Khasavyurt administration referred to Mr. Binh as a "hero," expressing deep condolences and respect for his "bravery and spirit of self-sacrifice." Mr. Arslanov stated, "Can Van Binh's feat will forever be etched in our minds. His courage and sacrifice will be a testament to future generations, reminding us of the value of peace and security." The local government did not release any further details about Mr. Binh, such as his age, family circumstances, or where he died, on its official Telegram channel. This is a platform Russian officials often use for statements and news dissemination. "Russian authorities rarely talk about how soldiers died in the war [with Ukraine] in official announcements," senior correspondent Olga Ivshina of BBC News Russian, who investigated foreign nationals killed fighting for Russia, told BBC News Vietnamese. Given the ongoing casualties and a declining number of Russian citizens signing up for military service, Moscow is likely to continue expanding its recruitment efforts from abroad. Russian authorities have not released new military casualty figures since September 2022. Although the Vietnamese government has not officially announced its citizens fighting for Russia, Vietnamese media earlier in 2025 cited RT, a Russian outlet, reporting on a "Vietnamese-origin fighter" named Nikolai, nicknamed "The Vietnamese," fighting for the Russian army in Kursk, a border region with Ukraine. On the opposing side, a soldier of Vietnamese origin, Nguyen Lam Tung, is also fighting for the Ukrainian army. Vietnamese law prohibits its citizens from acting as mercenaries or organizing mercenary recruitment against another country. Specifically, Article 425 of the 2015 Penal Code stipulates that anyone who acts as a mercenary to fight against an independent, sovereign state or territory shall be punished by imprisonment from 5 to 15 years. BBC has not been able to determine the circumstances of Mr. Can Van Binh's recruitment into the Russian army, details of his combat experience, or how he died. BBC News Vietnamese has sent a request for comment to the Khasavyurt administration. © 2026 BBC. BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Learn how we approach external linking.