Ukraine claims that about 1,400 Africans from numerous nations are defending Russia

Kyiv’s foreign minister claimed Friday that Russian forces are fighting with more than 1,400 nationals from three dozen African nations in Ukraine.

According to Ukrainian officials, Russia has attempted to increase the size of the military assaulting its smaller neighbor by enlisting combatants from several nations, occasionally by deceit.

Russian enticement to sign contracts that he called “equivalent to… a death sentence” was cited by Andriy Sybiha, who called on African nations to alert their citizens.

On X, he said, “Foreign citizens in the Russian army have a sad fate,” “Most of them are immediately sent to the so-called ‘meat assaults’, where they are quickly killed.”

Following the men’s distress calls for assistance in returning home, South Africa announced on Thursday that it will look into how 17 of its residents joined mercenary troops.

Additionally, Kenya reported last month that several of its residents had unintentionally became involved in the conflict and were imprisoned in military facilities throughout Russia.

According to Sybiha, the majority of foreign mercenaries in Ukrainian custody had been apprehended during their first combat assignment, and the overall number of African recruits may exceed the 1,436 identified, coming from 36 different countries.

Ukraine will give more detailed information about the nations and areas from which Russia has gathered troops, he said.