Cameroonian mercenaries captured in Ukraine expose Russia's secret recruitment of foreign fighters
Photo: One of the Cameroonian fighters captured (screenshot)
Ukrainian forces in the Siversk direction have captured two citizens of Cameroon who were fighting for Russia against Ukraine, informs the 20th Separate Regiment of Unmanned Drones K-2.
According to the video, the captured Cameroonians are named Metugena Una-na Jean Pafe and Anatole Frank. They claim they traveled to Russia to "make shampoo" and "treat teeth."
However, at the Moscow airport, they were "not welcomed as saviors from fat and dandruff, but as cheap substitutes for Russian infantry."
Both men understood why they were being recruited and why they were issued military uniforms. Nevertheless, they signed a contract. They were promised a payment of 1.1 million rubles (about $14,000), which is significantly less than what Russia offers its own citizens. Still, for Cameroon, that sum is considered decent.
"The Africans were captured by soldiers of the K-2 Battalion, together with the 118th Separate Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces and two other battalions of the 1st Rifle and 1st Mechanized Battalions. They agreed to give an interview to the media team of the K-2 Battalion's 20th Regiment," the military added.
This is far from the first case of Russia recruiting foreign nationals to fight against Ukraine, many of whom later end up as prisoners of war.
Just a few days ago, Ukrainian forces captured another foreign fighter — a citizen of China. He turned out to be 24-year-old Wang Wu, who had been serving in the Russian army.
For more details about that story, read RBC-Ukraine's report.
