More than 1,400 Africans have joined Russian forces in Ukraine and are risking their lives. According to Kyiv, these are manipulated recruitments, and calls for a response from African states.
More than 1,400 citizens from more than thirty African countries are fighting alongside Russian troops in the war in Ukraine. This was stated by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha on Friday, writes TASR according to a Reuters report.
- More than 1,400 Africans are fighting on the side of Russia in Ukraine.
- The connection of Russian forces with African mercenaries carries the risk of casualties.
- Ukraine plans to disclose countries affected by Russian recruitment.
“Foreigners in the Russian army have a sad fate. Most of them are immediately sent to so-called ‘mass attacks’, where they are quickly killed,” says Sybiha. According to him, Russia has been luring Africans to sign a contract with the Russian army for a long time. He compared the contract to a death sentence and called on African governments to warn their citizens.
Recruiting troops in Africa
Ukrainian officials accuse Russia of recruiting soldiers in dozens of countries around the world. The foreign minister says that Ukraine plans to publish more detailed information about the countries and regions in which Russia is recruiting new soldiers.
South Africa said on Thursday it would investigate how 17 of its citizens were recruited into a Russian mercenary force and are now urgently seeking repatriation. Kenya said last month that several of its citizens had been detained in military camps on Russian territory after they had “inadvertently” become involved in the conflict.
The number of African soldiers is increasing
Sybiha says the total number of African soldiers may be higher than the 1,436 people identified so far from a total of 36 countries. He also added that most of the foreign mercenaries were detained in Ukraine already during their first mission.
