Ghana says at least 55 of its citizens have been killed after being lured into Russia’s war in Ukraine, officials announced following a visit to Kyiv that highlighted concerns about the recruitment of African nationals.
Reports have grown of African men being enticed to travel to Russia with promises of work, only to be placed on Ukraine’s front lines — a trend that has strained ties between Moscow and several African states. Russian officials deny they are illegally recruiting African citizens to fight in Ukraine.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa posted on X that 272 Ghanaians are believed to have been recruited into the conflict since 2022, with an estimated 55 killed and two taken prisoner. Standing beside Ablakwa at a media briefing, Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said more than 1,780 Africans from 36 countries were serving in the Russian armed forces.
Ablakwa said Ghana, which maintains economic and diplomatic links with Russia, will increase public awareness of the recruitment and work to dismantle what he called “dark web illegal recruitment schemes operating within our jurisdiction.” “This is not our war and we cannot allow our youth to become human shields for others,” he said.
The minister said Ghana plans to step up public education and to track and disrupt illegal online recruitment networks. He added that the two captured Ghanaians had warned others not to be swayed by financial incentives to join the fighting.
The issue is not limited to Ghana. South Africa reported this week that two of its citizens died on the frontlines; this is separate from a group of 17 South Africans who were allegedly tricked into fighting for Russia and have mostly been repatriated. Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, is under police investigation in South Africa over alleged involvement in luring more than a dozen men to Russia.
A Kenyan intelligence report says more than 1,000 Kenyans have been recruited to fight for Russia. Kenya’s foreign ministry has reported 27 Kenyans rescued after being stranded in Russia, and foreign minister Musalia Mudavadi said he plans to visit Russia in March to raise the matter.