Many of them died on the front lines, trying to kill people who are defending their country.
It sounds like a shit deal. I understand that people live in severe poverty, and can die wirhout an income - but this really feels like you are giving up your soul for an eventual payday that is never coming.
Russia is probably banking on the fact that, if they don’t make it, they don’t have to pay you or your family. Game theory wise, this means that it’s in Russia’s interest that the foreign people don’t ever see their home countries again.