Russia Tricks African Men Into Ukraine War

African men from countries including Kenya and South Africa say they were deceived into joining Russian forces and sent to fight in Ukraine, according to recent investigations and eyewitness accounts.

Survivors describe harsh frontline conditions, minimal training, and life-threatening experiences that they say were not part of the promises made to them. Many of the men were reportedly lured with false job offers, including security contracts and other civilian positions in Russia. Instead, they were coerced into military service, with some recruiters allegedly threatening them with repayment of travel costs if they refused. I didn’t know how to shoot. I thought it was a legitimate job. When I realized, it was too late,” one African recruit told investigators. Another said: “You escape, or you die. Reports indicate that hundreds of Kenyans and South Africans may have been affected. Many were sent to frontline combat zones with little preparation and faced language barriers, inadequate equipment, and extreme danger. Some families have reported losing contact with their loved ones entirely. South African authorities have launched investigations into recruitment networks that allegedly facilitated the deception, while Kenya has issued official warnings to citizens against falling victim to similar schemes. Diplomatic efforts are also underway to repatriate affected nationals. Experts warn that Russia has increasingly targeted economically vulnerable foreigners through cash bonuses, simplified citizenship offers, and even prisoner enlistment to replenish its forces in Ukraine. According to estimates, over 1,400 Africans from at least 36 countries are currently involved in the conflict under Russian command. Governments and human rights organizations are calling the recruitment practices a form of exploitation and potential human trafficking, urging citizens to exercise caution when approached with overseas job offers that seem suspiciously lucrative.