Russia accused of recruiting over 1,700 African fighters for Ukraine conflict

Ukraine Accuses Russia of Recruiting African Citizens Through Deception

A Ukrainian Foreign Minister has made allegations that Russia is using deceptive tactics to recruit more than 1,700 Africans to join its war effort. Andrii Sybiha, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, made these claims during a news conference in Kyiv on Wednesday, accompanied by his visiting Ghanaian counterpart, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

According to Sybiha, Russia is using fraudulent schemes to lure African citizens into fighting for the Russian army. He stated that Ukraine has data indicating over 1,780 citizens from the African continent are currently serving in the Russian army. The soldiers hail from 36 countries and are part of a trend that Sybiha described as crucial to counter Ukraine’s military on the front lines.

Russia has denied recruiting African citizens illegally to fight for its armed forces. However, reports have emerged of men from Africa being lured into Russia with promises of jobs, only to find themselves on Ukrainian battlefields. Ablakwa expressed concern over the situation, stating that many of the Africans fighting for Russia are victims of deception, lacking security and military backgrounds.

Ablakwa also called for a ceasefire to end the war, which marked its fourth anniversary on Tuesday. He appealed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to release two Ghanaian prisoners of war captured while fighting for Russia. Ghana plans to raise public awareness about trafficking networks using deception to recruit for Russian forces during its upcoming presidency of the African Union next year.

South Africa’s Presidency recently secured the return home of 11 of its nationals who were lured into fighting for Russia in Ukraine, following the repatriation of four others. Russia has previously acknowledged enlisting soldiers from North Korea to fight in Ukraine, with thousands estimated to have been killed or wounded in battle.

Source: Al Jazeera