Ukrainian International Minister Andrii Sybiha has stated that greater than 1,400 folks from 36 African nations are recognized to be preventing for Russia in its conflict towards Ukraine, urging governments to warn their residents towards becoming a member of a battle the place they’re “shortly killed”.
Talking on Friday, Sybiha accused Moscow of attractive Africans into becoming a member of the conflict and signing army contracts that have been “equal to … a loss of life sentence”.
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“International residents within the Russian military have a tragic destiny”, Sybiha wrote on X. “Most of them are instantly despatched to the so-called ‘meat assaults’, the place they’re shortly killed.”
“Most mercenaries don’t survive greater than a month,” he stated.
“Russia recruits nationals of African nations utilizing a wide range of strategies. Some are supplied cash, whereas others are duped and don’t realise what they’re signing up for or are compelled to take action below duress. Signing a contract is equal to signing a loss of life sentence,” he added.
The minister’s warning got here as a number of African governments acknowledged circumstances of their residents becoming a member of Russian forces in Ukraine.
In line with obtainable data, at the very least 1436 residents from 36 African nations are at the moment preventing within the ranks of Russia’s invasion military in Ukraine. The quantity represents these recognized, although the precise quantity might be increased.
Russia recruits nationals of African…
— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) November 7, 2025
South Africa stated on Thursday it was investigating how 17 of its nationals turned concerned with mercenary teams after the lads issued misery calls looking for assist to return house.
President Cyril Ramaphosa stated the South African males aged between 20 and 39 have been lured into becoming a member of mercenary forces “below the pretext of profitable employment contracts” and had issued misery calls after changing into trapped within the Donbas space of Ukraine.
A spokesperson for Ramaphosa stated it was not but clear which aspect the lads have been preventing on, however Russia has been accused of recruiting males from different nations to battle within the conflict below the pretext of providing them jobs.
Russia has additionally been accused of tricking ladies from South Africa and different components of Africa into working in Russian drone factories by social media campaigns promising them jobs in fields reminiscent of catering and hospitality.
Kenya additionally reported final month that a few of its residents had been detained in Russian army camps after being unwittingly caught up within the battle.
In a submit on social media on Friday, Kenyan President William Ruto stated he had spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about “younger Kenyans who’ve been illegally recruited to battle within the conflict in Ukraine” and each agreed to “increase consciousness of the risks of such ventures”.
Ruto stated he requested his Ukrainian counterpart to “facilitate the discharge of any Kenyan in Ukrainian custody” and was grateful that Zelenskyy had agreed “to my attraction”.
I’ve had a fruitful cellphone dialog with President @ZelenskyyUa of Ukraine, and mentioned varied problems with mutual curiosity between our two peoples and nations.
We expressed concern over younger Kenyans who’ve been illegally recruited to battle within the conflict in Ukraine, and…
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) November 6, 2025
In line with Sybiha, the true variety of African recruits by Russian forces may exceed the 1,436 recognized to this point. He added that the majority international fighters captured by Ukraine have been taken throughout their first fight mission, and that Kyiv would quickly launch extra particulars concerning the origins of those recruits who’ve been taken prisoner.
Ukrainian officers have lengthy accused Russia of bolstering its ranks by enlisting fighters from abroad, usually utilizing misleading techniques.
In August, Zelenskyy stated Russian troops preventing close to the border city of Vovchansk within the Kharkiv area included mercenaries from China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and several other African nations, quoting reviews from Ukrainian troopers on the entrance line.
China’s Ministry of International Affairs dismissed these claims as “irresponsible remarks”, whereas Pakistan referred to as them “baseless and unfounded”.
In line with the Kyiv Impartial information outlet, a number of hundred Chinese language nationals have been preventing for Russia.
After Ukrainian troops reported capturing Chinese language fighters in April, Zelenskyy stated Russia was distributing recruitment movies by Chinese language social media networks.
In October, the Kyiv Impartial additionally reported the seize of a 22-year-old Indian nationwide who had joined Russian forces to keep away from a seven-year jail sentence for drug expenses. Many international recruits, in accordance with reviews, are promised excessive salaries, Russian citizenship, or noncombat roles, solely to be despatched straight to the battlefield.
Ukraine additionally believes the most important contingent of international fighters in Russia’s ranks might come from Cuba, estimating that as much as 20,000 Cubans have been recruited as mercenaries.
