Ukraine says more than 1,400 people from 36 African countries have been recruited to fight for Russia
Key claim: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Friday that authorities have identified more than 1,400 people from 36 African nations fighting for Russia in the war in Ukraine and urged African governments to warn citizens against joining what he described as contracts that are "equivalent to ... a death sentence."
"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," Sybiha wrote on X. "Most mercenaries do not survive more than a month."
Sybiha said Russia uses a range of methods to recruit nationals of African countries: some are offered money, others are deceived into signing contracts without understanding the consequences, and some may be coerced. He warned that signing such contracts can amount to signing a "death sentence." Kyiv also said the true number could be higher than the 1,436 individuals identified so far and that many foreign fighters captured by Ukrainian forces were taken on their first combat mission.
Responses from African governments
South Africa: Authorities are investigating how 17 South African nationals, aged 20–39, became involved with mercenary groups after they issued distress calls seeking help to return home. President Cyril Ramaphosa said the men appear to have been lured by the promise of lucrative employment and later found themselves trapped in the Donbas region. A presidential spokesperson said it remains unclear which side the men were fighting for.
Kenya: President William Ruto said he spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about "young Kenyans who have been illegally recruited to fight in the war in Ukraine." Ruto said he requested Kyiv's help to locate and facilitate the release of any Kenyans in Ukrainian custody and that both leaders agreed to raise awareness of the risks.
Recruitment methods and wider context
Ukrainian officials and media reports say recruiters have used social media and job adverts promising work in sectors such as catering, hospitality and factory roles to lure recruits, including women who allegedly were offered jobs in drone factories. Reports indicate many recruits are promised high salaries, Russian citizenship or non‑combat roles, only to be sent to front‑line duties.
Kyiv and several outlets have also reported foreign fighters from beyond Africa — including China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and India — among Russia's ranks. China dismissed some of these claims as "irresponsible remarks," and Pakistan called allegations of Pakistani mercenaries "baseless and unfounded." Ukrainian sources have also estimated that as many as 20,000 Cubans may have been recruited, a figure presented as an estimate rather than independently verified fact.
What we know and what remains unverified
Many claims in this story come from Ukrainian officials and media reporting on captured fighters and battlefield intelligence. Russian authorities have their own denial or counter-statements in some cases. Independent verification of the full scale and methods of recruitment is limited, and Kyiv has said it will publish more details about the origins of foreign recruits taken prisoner.
Why it matters: If substantiated, large-scale recruitment of foreign nationals using deceptive or coercive tactics would have significant legal, humanitarian and diplomatic implications for the countries involved and for international responses to the conflict.
