At least 1,436 citizens from 36 African countries are now fighting on the side of Russia against Ukraine — and this is only the number that Ukraine has been able to identify. The real figure may be higher. This was stated by Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sybiga.
According to him, Russia recruits Africans in several ways: some are openly offered money and Russian passports, others are deceived about the real tasks, and some are forced to sign contracts while already in Russia. In fact, Sybiga emphasized, signing such a contract “is tantamount to signing a death sentence.”
Sent straight to the front
Foreigners in the Russian army are treated as expendable. The minister said that most of them are sent to the most dangerous areas — so-called “meat assaults” — where the command does not count on their return.
“The Russian command understands that there will be no responsibility for a killed foreigner, so they are treated as second-rate, expendable human material,” Sybiga stressed.
According to Ukrainian data, most of these mercenaries do not survive even a month at the front.
What Ukraine is asking African states to do
The Ukrainian MFA called on African governments to publicly warn their citizens not to sign contracts with the Russian army or affiliated PMC structures.
“Participation on the side of Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine is illegal, immoral and violates the UN Charter and international law,” Sybiga said.
He added that Ukraine will continue to publish information about countries from which Russia recruits foreigners, as well as about those who end up in Ukrainian captivity.
Is there a chance to survive?
The minister emphasized: those foreigners who surrendered to Ukrainian forces during their first battle remained alive. Therefore, for those who were already deceived or forced into the Russian army, the safest option is to desert and surrender at the first opportunity.
Ukraine separately stressed that Russia is trying to compensate for losses at the front by recruiting not only prisoners and migrants in Russia itself, but also foreign citizens from Africa, the Middle East and Asia — often people in vulnerable situations who are being sold a false story about “work” or “service,” but in fact are being sent to the front line of a foreign war.
