Ukrainian defenders in Donetsk detained a citizen of Senegal, who became one of the few foreigners involved on the front lines of the Russian-Ukrainian war
The incident occurred in the Toretsky direction, where the 49th Separate Assault Battalion "Carpathian Sich" carried out a successful operation to recover and detain a foreign mercenary fighting on the side of the occupiers. According to information released in a video clip published on the battalion’s official Facebook page, it is clear that the detainee is a citizen of Senegal, and his identity has already been confirmed. The footage also includes fragments of an interview with the prisoner, in which he states that he studied in Russia for about two years. According to the detained individual, he was recruited to take part in combat operations due to a number of circumstances, including his desire to emigrate to Germany. However, Russian representatives offered him an alternative — fight on the side of the Russian occupiers, earn money doing so, and thereby have the opportunity in the future to continue his journey to Europe. From the Senegalese’s words, he was given the task to go to the frontline, where he was supposed to conduct combat actions, with the promise that after completing the mission he would be able to legally enter his future country of residence. Ultimately, according to the detainee, he was incorporated into the ranks of foreign fighters-mercenaries fighting on the side of the Russian military. During a search, the detainee was found to have minor injuries, and he was quickly provided with medical assistance. Additionally, several bank cards of Russian financial institutions were found in his personal belongings, confirming his links to the Russian financial system and suggesting possible cooperation with Russian structures. Currently, Ukrainian security forces are ensuring the detainee’s safety and preparing for further procedures, aiming to clarify all circumstances surrounding his appearance and involvement in the war. Moreover, this incident once again highlights the global nature of Russian aggression and its involvement of foreign citizens in combat as part of occupation forces, demonstrating the scale of challenges facing Ukrainian security. On its part, the Ukrainian side urges the international community to be attentive to the facts of foreign nationals, particularly from African countries, being involved in the war in Ukraine. This underscores the need to strengthen controls over the movement of foreign citizens and implement countermeasures against the use of mercenaries in military conflicts. Nevertheless, Ukrainian military and security services continue working to identify and detain all individuals involved in fighting against Ukraine, in order to ensure peace and security in the region.