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Russia Recruited Nearly 3,000 Africans From 37 Countries For Its War Against Ukraine
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Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry says at least 2,982 people from 37 African countries have been recruited into Russia’s armed forces, with around 486 killed in the war against Ukraine.
The figures were provided by the ministry in response to a request from Suspilne on August 16.
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According to the Foreign Ministry, 35 citizens of 17 African countries are currently being held as prisoners of war in Ukraine. The largest numbers of recruits have reportedly come from Kenya, Egypt, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Algeria, and Mali.
“To recruit Africans, Russian intelligence services employ a wide range of manipulative methods aimed at coercion and deception, including under the pretext of offering civilian employment or education, promising high financial compensation, prospects of obtaining Russian citizenship, or other migration and social benefits,” the ministry said.
In some cases, foreign nationals are pressured into signing military contracts written in Russian under the threat of deportation or imprisonment.
Ukraine is seeking to counter the recruitment campaign through its diplomatic missions in Africa. Ukrainian diplomats regularly inform local officials about cases of Russian recruitment of their citizens and conduct public information campaigns in countries where Ukraine maintains diplomatic representation.
The Foreign Ministry, together with Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, has also launched a dedicated website available in English, French, and Swahili.
According to Suspine, the resource provides verified information about Russian recruitment methods, accounts from people affected by the campaign, analytical materials, practical guidance for potential victims and their families, and channels for reporting suspected recruiters, according to the ministry.
Similar cases have also been reported in other countries. The Peruvian government, for example, has confirmed that 11 of its citizens who joined Russian forces have been killed, while 114 remain missing and three have been captured by Ukrainian forces.
According to Spanish news agency EFE, Peruvian authorities said that among Peruvians recruited into the Russian military were people who are now missing or being held captive by Ukraine.
Overall, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate has identified more than 28,000 foreign nationals serving in the Russian Armed Forces under military contracts, with the number continuing to rise.
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