According to recent reports, Russia is attempting - sometimes successfully - to recruit former Afghan Army special forces soldiers who had fled to Iran. Apparently, these soldiers fear possible extradition to Afghanistan, now ruled by the Taliban, where they and their families face persecution and possible death. Aside from financial compensation, Russia offers these Afghan soldiers residency rights for themselves and their families, so the incentive for them to join is clear, and some have.
But what is also clear is that, their training - ironically, run by the US forces during the US presence in Afghanistan - notwithstanding, they are unlikely to make much of a difference in Ukraine. They are not used to the climate their, nor are they well integrated into the Russian armed forces - and, given the rushed nature of emergency patching effort they are a part of, they likely never will get a chance to get the training that may make them effective in their new role. And all of his looks like a sign of utter desperation on the part of Russia - yes, that same Russia that, according to many a Western analyst, not so long ago was said to be in possession of the world's second army. And yes, those analysts would lose their jobs if we lived in a sane world - but that is a topic for a separate article of its very own.
References
Russia is recruiting Afghan commandos — trained by the U.S. — to fight in Ukraine
Bernard Condon , Los Angeles Times, 1 November 2022
It has been clear in this war that the Russian army is not as powerful as used to be thought.
And that is putting it rather diplomatically. 😃