Ukraine Claims Over 1,400 Africans Recruited to Fight for Russia

Updated by Faith Barabara N Ruhinda at 1229 EAT on Saturday 8 November 2025

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has said that more than 1,400 people from 36 African nations are known to be fighting for Russia in its war against Ukraine, urging African governments to warn their citizens against joining a conflict where many are “quickly killed.”

Speaking on Friday, Sybiha accused Moscow of luring Africans to enlist by offering military contracts he described as “equivalent to a death sentence.” He called on African leaders to take measures to prevent recruitment efforts targeting their citizens.

“Foreign citizens in the Russian army have a sad fate,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X. “Most of them are immediately sent into so-called ‘meat assaults,’ where they are quickly killed.”

Sybiha said that “most mercenaries do not survive more than a month,” accusing Moscow of exploiting vulnerable recruits from abroad.

“Russia recruits nationals of African countries using a variety of methods,” he added. “Some are offered money, while others are deceived about what they are signing up for — or coerced into doing so under duress. Signing such a contract is equivalent to signing a death sentence.”

The minister’s remarks came as several African governments acknowledged reports of their citizens joining Russian forces in Ukraine.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has said that a group of South African men, aged between 20 and 39, were lured into joining mercenary forces “under the pretext of lucrative employment contracts” and later issued distress calls after becoming trapped in Ukraine’s Donbas region.

A spokesperson for Ramaphosa said it remained unclear which side the men were fighting on, but Russia has faced repeated accusations of recruiting foreign nationals to fight in its war under the guise of offering them well-paid jobs.

Moscow has also been accused of deceiving women from South Africa and other African countries into working in Russian drone factories through social media campaigns advertising roles in catering and hospitality.

In Kenya, authorities reported last month that several citizens had been detained in Russian military camps after being unwittingly drawn into the conflict.

Kenyan President William Ruto said on Friday that he had discussed the issue with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, following reports of “young Kenyans who have been illegally recruited to fight in the war in Ukraine.” Ruto added that both leaders agreed to raise awareness of the dangers of such schemes.

The Kenyan president said he had also asked Zelenskyy to “facilitate the release of any Kenyan in Ukrainian custody” and thanked him for agreeing to the request.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the number of Africans fighting for Russia could exceed the 1,436 identified so far. He added that most foreign fighters captured by Ukraine were taken during their first combat mission, and that Kyiv would soon release more details about their origins.

Ukraine has long accused Moscow of boosting its ranks by recruiting foreigners through deceptive tactics. In August, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian forces near the border town of Vovchansk included mercenaries from China, Central Asia, Pakistan, and several African countries.

According to The Kyiv Independent, several hundred Chinese nationals are believed to be fighting for Russia in its war against Ukraine.

After Ukrainian troops reported capturing Chinese fighters in April, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia had been circulating recruitment videos on Chinese social media platforms to attract volunteers.

In October, The Kyiv Independent also reported the capture of a 22-year-old Indian national who had joined Russian forces to avoid a seven-year prison sentence for drug offences. Many foreign recruits, according to Al Jazeera and other outlets, are lured with promises of high salaries, Russian citizenship, or noncombat roles, only to be sent directly into battle.

Ukraine believes the largest group of foreign fighters in Russia’s ranks may come from Cuba, estimating that as many as 20,000 Cubans have been recruited as mercenaries.

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