Russia bans mercenary recruitment from 43 countries — The Telegraph reveals why
Photo: Russia recruited thousands of African nationals (Getty Images)
Russia has banned military recruiters from enlisting foreign nationals from 43 countries, after African governments expressed outrage that their citizens were being deceived into fighting in the war against Ukraine, according to The Telegraph.
Read also: African fighters in Russia's ranks: Ghana seeks release of captured nationals
The new "stop list" for military recruiters includes citizens from 43 countries, among them China, India, Brazil, Türkiye, Cuba, Iran, Venezuela, and a number of African nations.
According to the report, the aggressor state has recruited thousands of citizens from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East to offset heavy losses in its army. Many foreign recruits have died in the war, while survivors have complained they were lured to Russia under false pretenses.
African countries react to Russia’s actions
"As the scale of the recruitment has become clear in recent months, African governments have become increasingly critical of the hiring. Moscow has long courted African nations, portraying itself as an alternative to the West, and offering security, industrial and mining investment and expertise," the article states.
Recently, Kenya estimated that Russia had recruited up to 1,000 of its citizens. The country’s foreign minister, Musalia Mudavadi, described the recruitment as "unacceptable and clandestine." Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka have also contacted Moscow, urging it to stop recruiting their citizens.
In addition, African governments are demanding the repatriation of nationals who are either still serving in Russia’s armed forces or are currently being held captive.
Russia’s foreign recruitment drive
Earlier, the Indian government reported at least 200 cases of its citizens being recruited by Russian agents to fight in Ukraine. According to official figures, at least 26 Indians have been killed, and seven remain missing.
At the same time, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry called on African countries to strengthen measures against Russian recruitment schemes that draw young people from across the continent into the war.
More details on how African nationals end up on the front lines, fall into captivity, and what they say about their experiences with Russian forces are available in the RBC-Ukraine report.
