Ukraine’s FM says over 1,400 Africans recruited to fight for Russia in war

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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has said that much than 1,400 radical from 36 African nations are known to beryllium warring for Russia successful its warfare against Ukraine, urging governments to pass their citizens against joining a struggle wherever they are “quickly killed”.

Speaking connected Friday, Sybiha accused Moscow of enticing Africans into joining the warfare and signing subject contracts that were “equivalent to … a decease sentence”.

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“Foreign citizens successful the Russian service person a bittersweet fate”, Sybiha wrote connected X. “Most of them are instantly sent to the alleged ‘meat assaults’, wherever they are rapidly killed.”

“Most mercenaries bash not past much than a month,” helium said.

“Russia recruits nationals of African countries utilizing a assortment of methods. Some are offered money, portion others are duped and bash not realise what they are signing up for oregon are forced to bash truthful nether duress. Signing a declaration is equivalent to signing a decease sentence,” helium added.

The minister’s informing came arsenic respective African governments acknowledged cases of their citizens joining Russian forces successful Ukraine.

According to disposable information, astatine slightest 1436 citizens from 36 African countries are presently warring successful the ranks of Russia's penetration service successful Ukraine. The fig represents those identified, though the existent fig could beryllium higher.

Russia recruits nationals of African…

— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) November 7, 2025

South Africa said connected Thursday it was investigating however 17 of its nationals became progressive with mercenary groups aft the men issued distress calls seeking assistance to instrumentality home.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said the South African men aged betwixt 20 and 39 were lured into joining mercenary forces “under the pretext of lucrative employment contracts” and had issued distress calls aft becoming trapped successful the Donbas country of Ukraine.

A spokesperson for Ramaphosa said it was not yet wide which broadside the men were warring on, but Russia has been accused of recruiting men from different countries to combat successful the warfare nether the pretext of offering them jobs.

Russia has besides been accused of tricking women from South Africa and different parts of Africa into moving successful Russian drone factories done societal media campaigns promising them jobs successful fields specified arsenic catering and hospitality.

Kenya besides reported past period that immoderate of its citizens had been detained successful Russian subject camps aft being unwittingly caught up successful the conflict.

In a station connected societal media connected Friday, Kenyan President William Ruto said helium had spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy astir “young Kenyans who person been illegally recruited to combat successful the warfare successful Ukraine” and some agreed to “raise consciousness of the dangers of specified ventures”.

Ruto said helium asked his Ukrainian counterpart to “facilitate the merchandise of immoderate Kenyan successful Ukrainian custody” and was grateful that Zelenskyy had agreed “to my appeal”.

I person had a fruitful telephone speech with President @ZelenskyyUa of Ukraine, and discussed assorted issues of communal involvement betwixt our 2 peoples and countries.

We expressed interest implicit young Kenyans who person been illegally recruited to combat successful the warfare successful Ukraine, and…

— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) November 6, 2025

According to Sybiha, the existent fig of African recruits by Russian forces could transcend the 1,436 identified truthful far. He added that astir overseas fighters captured by Ukraine were taken during their archetypal combat mission, and that Kyiv would soon merchandise much details astir the origins of these recruits who person been taken prisoner.

Ukrainian officials person agelong accused Russia of bolstering its ranks by enlisting fighters from abroad, often utilizing deceptive tactics.

In August, Zelenskyy said Russian troops warring adjacent the borderline municipality of Vovchansk successful the Kharkiv portion included mercenaries from China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and respective African countries, quoting reports from Ukrainian soldiers connected the beforehand line.

Tina Ghimire, woman of Padam Ghimire, speaks to members of the media astir her husband, who is successful Russia, arsenic families of Nepali nationals who person been recruited by the Russian service to combat against Ukraine pleaded for their harmless return, successful Kathmandu, Nepal February 2, 2024. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed those claims arsenic “irresponsible remarks”, portion Pakistan called them “baseless and unfounded”.

According to the Kyiv Independent quality outlet, respective 100 Chinese nationals person been warring for Russia.

After Ukrainian troops reported capturing Chinese fighters successful April, Zelenskyy said Russia was distributing recruitment videos done Chinese societal media networks.

In October, the Kyiv Independent besides reported the seizure of a 22-year-old Indian nationalist who had joined Russian forces to debar a seven-year situation condemnation for cause charges. Many overseas recruits, according to reports, are promised precocious salaries, Russian citizenship, oregon noncombat roles, lone to beryllium sent consecutive to the battlefield.

Ukraine besides believes the largest contingent of overseas fighters successful Russia’s ranks whitethorn travel from Cuba, estimating that up to 20,000 Cubans person been recruited arsenic mercenaries.