NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 18 – Ukrainian soldiers have captured a Kenyan citizen allegedly serving in the Russian army near Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast, raising fresh concerns about Moscow’s recruitment of foreign fighters.
The 57th Motorized Infantry Brigade of Ukraine reported on Wednesday that the man, who identified himself as Evans, claimed he had been deceived into joining the Russian military. Evans, described as an athlete in civilian life, said he had traveled to Russia as a tourist before being tricked into signing military papers.
“I ended up in Russia without knowing I had been enlisted in the Russian army. I had never served before,” Evans said in a video released by Ukrainian forces. “I didn’t go to Russia for that.”
Claims of Deception and Forced Enlistment
According to Evans, his host in Russia offered him a “job” and asked him to sign documents. These papers, he later discovered, were a military contract. He alleged that his passport and phone were confiscated immediately afterward, leaving him with no choice but to follow orders.
“After I signed, he took my passport and phone, saying he would return them. From that moment on, other people came for me. They told me to get in the car,” he recounted.
Following just a week of basic training, Evans said he was sent to a chaotic military camp. He eventually fled and surrendered to Ukrainian troops, who provided him with food and water.
“If I had gone back to the Russian army, I would have been killed,” he added.
Evans also noted that recruits in his unit included Russians, Belarusians, Tajiks, and other Africans.
Russia’s Recruitment of Foreign Fighters
The case sheds light on what analysts describe as Russia’s growing reliance on foreign mercenaries in its war against Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously said that Russian units in Kharkiv included fighters from China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and several African countries.
Kenya’s Position on the War
Kenya has been significantly affected by disruptions in the global grain market since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The East African nation is heavily dependent on Ukrainian wheat imports.
President William Ruto has consistently condemned Russia’s aggression, terming the invasion “unjust” and calling for respect for international law.
