Over 1,400 African Citizens Recruited to Fight for Russian Forces in Ukraine, Foreign Minister Reports

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha reported that more than 1,400 citizens from approximately 36 African nations are currently fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials have indicated that Russia is attempting to strengthen its military presence by recruiting fighters from various countries, sometimes through deceptive practices.

According to Sybiha, Russia is luring African individuals to sign military contracts that he characterized as "equivalent to a death sentence." He has urged African governments to issue warnings to their citizens about these recruitment efforts.

In a statement posted on X, Sybiha emphasized, "Foreign citizens in the Russian army have a sad fate. Most of them are immediately sent to the so-called 'meat assaults', where they are quickly killed."

The South African government announced Thursday it would investigate how 17 of its nationals joined mercenary forces after these individuals sent urgent requests for assistance to return home.

Similarly, Kenya reported last month that some of its citizens were being detained in Russian military facilities after unwittingly becoming involved in the conflict.

Sybiha suggested the actual number of African recruits could exceed the 1,436 already identified. He noted that most foreign mercenaries currently in Ukrainian custody were captured during their initial combat mission.

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister stated that Ukraine plans to provide more detailed information regarding the countries and regions from which Russia has been recruiting troops.