Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has alleged that more than 1,780 Africans are currently fighting for Russia in its war against Ukraine, claiming Moscow is using deception to lure them into combat.
Recruitment Allegations
Speaking at a joint press conference with Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Sybiha said African fighters hail from 36 different countries across the continent. He accused Russia of exploiting vulnerable individuals by promising jobs, only to send them to the frontlines in Ukraine.
Russian authorities have denied illegally recruiting African citizens. However, reports of African men being misled into joining Russian forces have grown more frequent in recent months, straining Moscow’s relations with several African governments.
Ghana’s Response
Ablakwa described many of the Africans fighting for Russia as victims of deception, recruited through the dark web with promises of ordinary employment.
“They have no security background. They have no military background. They have not been trained. They were just lured and deceived, and then put on the frontlines,” Ablakwa said.
He expressed solidarity with Ukraine and called for a ceasefire to end the war, which marked its fourth anniversary on Tuesday. Ablakwa also pledged to request the release of two Ghanaian prisoners of war captured while fighting for Russia.
African Union Role
Ghana will chair the African Union regional bloc next year. Ablakwa said his country would promote awareness campaigns to expose trafficking networks that deceptively recruit Africans into Russian forces.
Broader Context
The allegations highlight the complex global dimensions of the war in Ukraine, where Russia’s recruitment practices are increasingly scrutinized. For African governments, the issue underscores the need to protect citizens from exploitation while navigating sensitive diplomatic ties with Moscow.
