Yeah, but there's a difference between random individual down-on-their-luck schmucks off in Cuba or Africa or wherever and arrangements being made between states.

Even in the individual recruiting cases, you had states that found out about the situation pushing for a stop and/or their nationals to be returned, as with India:

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indian-man-working-with-russian-military-amid-war-with-ukraine-returns-home-6562591

Mr Sufiyan said he was promised a security-related job and not told about having to help the troops in the war. He was told that he would have to undergo training for three months after which his salary would increase

Russia had agreed to India's demand to ensure early release of Indian nationals working with the Russian military as support staff after PM Modi "very strongly" raised the issue with President Vladimir Putin during his visit.