More than 1,400 African nationals from different countries have reportedly joined Russian troops in the ongoing war against Ukraine, according to Ukraine’s foreign minister on Friday.
Andriy Sabiha revealed that Moscow is persuading Africans to sign military contracts that he described as “a direct path to death.” He explained on X that foreigners in the Russian military often face terrible outcomes, saying most are sent straight into “meat assaults,” where many are quickly killed.
Ukrainian officials believe Russia is trying to strengthen its forces by recruiting foreign nationals and have urged African leaders to warn their citizens about the risks involved.
South Africa announced on Thursday that it will investigate how 17 of its citizens ended up in mercenary units after they sent distress messages asking for help to return home.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said the men, aged 20–39, were deceived with promises of high–paying job contracts but later found themselves trapped in Ukraine. His spokesperson added that it is still unclear which side they were fighting for.
Last month, Kenya confirmed that some of its citizens were held in military camps across Russia after unknowingly becoming caught up in the war.
A previous investigation revealed that hundreds of African women were tricked into working in a drone factory in Tatarstan’s Alabuga Special Economic Zone as Russia scrambled to solve wartime labor shortages.
In August, South Africa warned young women to be cautious of fake adverts circulating online that promise job and study opportunities in Russia.
Ukraine has so far identified 1,436 African nationals from 36 countries involved with Russian forces, though Sabiha noted that the real figure could be higher. He said most captured foreign fighters were detained during their first mission. Ukraine intends to release more details about the regions and countries from which Russia is recruiting fighters.
