Kenyan Men Victims of Recruitment Network for War on Russia’s Side: New Revelations and Exposures
In recent months, Ukrainian law enforcement agencies and international media have been rapidly unveiling a complex and large-scale scheme involving the recruitment and deployment of foreign mercenaries, particularly from Kenya, for military actions supporting the Russian Federation.
According to sources, the criminal network operated covertly, promising prospects of high earnings and stable employment to potential recruits.
However, once in Russia, participants faced a starkly different reality.
Recruiters offered men up to $17,800 for visa arrangements and trip organization, assuring employment within Russian military structures.
Yet, upon arrival, men were forced to sign contracts with the Russian armed forces; failure to meet deadlines or refusal to cooperate resulted in penalties.
Recent police operations in the city of Ati-River led to the detention of 21 Kenyan nationals awaiting departure to Russia at a hotel.
It is known that some of them sustained injuries, while others have not returned home.
Ukrainian special services have already collected evidence implicating Russia in systematic foreign recruitment efforts for combat roles.
An illustrative example is the recent capture of Kenyan Evans Kibet in the Kharkiv region.
He arrived in Ukraine as a tourist for two weeks, but when his visa expired, acquaintances reportedly offered him a “job,” which ultimately led to his detention and involvement in military activities, ending in his captivity.
This case underscores the scale and layered mechanisms used in recruiting foreigners for the ongoing conflict supported by Russia.