Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Wednesday that his government’s data show more than 1,780 citizens from across Africa are currently serving in the Russian armed forces, and he accused Moscow of employing deceptive tactics to bring them into the conflict in Ukraine.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Ghana’s foreign minister, Sybiha said the African fighters originate from 36 different countries. He said Kyiv is engaging with governments throughout the continent to try to stop their citizens from being pulled into what he described as schemes aimed at recruiting them into the war.
"We clearly see that Russia is trying to drag African citizens into a deadly war," Sybiha said. He added that discussions were under way with African governments to prevent their nationals from being drawn into such arrangements.
Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa echoed concerns about recruitment methods, saying many of the Africans fighting for Russian forces were deceived and recruited through online channels. Ablakwa said those recruited were promised ordinary jobs through dark web channels and that many of them lacked military training or any security background.
"They have no security background. They have no military background. They have not been trained," Ablakwa said. "They were just lured and deceived, and then put on the frontlines."
Russian authorities have denied allegations that they are illegally recruiting African citizens into their armed forces. Despite those denials, reports have grown of men from African countries being attracted to Russia by promises of employment and subsequently finding themselves on Ukraine’s front lines. Those developments have created tensions between Moscow and some of the African countries involved, according to the officials.
Ablakwa expressed solidarity with Ukraine and reiterated a call for a ceasefire to end the fighting, which marked its fourth anniversary on Tuesday. He also said he would request that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrange the release of two Ghanaian prisoners of war who were captured while fighting for Russia.
Looking ahead to Ghana’s upcoming year as chair of the African Union regional bloc, Ablakwa said Accra will promote public-awareness initiatives aimed at exposing trafficking and recruitment networks that deceptively enlist African citizens for service with Russian forces.
Officials said cross-government discussions and awareness campaigns are under way, but details on the scope and timing of those measures were not provided at the press briefing.