Russia stands accused of systematically tricking African nationals into joining its military ranks before deploying them as expendable frontline soldiers in its brutal war against Ukraine. Senior Ukrainian officials have levelled shocking allegations that Moscow views these recruits as little more as 'meat for the meat grinder', showing a blatant disregard for their lives.
Chilling Allegations and Disturbing Footage
Ukraine's ambassador to South Africa, Olexander Scherba, stated that Russia 'does not value' the lives of Africans who have been lured to the conflict, whether willingly or through deception. His comments come alongside the circulation of deeply disturbing videos on social media that appear to show racist abuse and the horrific exploitation of black mercenaries by Russian forces.
One widely-shared clip seems to depict a Russian soldier holding a black recruit at gunpoint, forcing him to act as a human bomb with a landmine strapped to his chest. The soldier uses a racist slur, callously referring to the man as a 'bottle opener' who will 'open' an enemy bunker. In another video, Russian troops are heard mocking a group of black fighters in a snowy forest, calling them 'disposable' and suggesting they will be 'singing differently' once sent to the front.
The Scale of Recruitment and Deceptive Tactics
In November, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha claimed that Kyiv had identified 1,426 fighters from 36 different African countries serving within the Russian army, cautioning that the true figure is likely higher. These individuals are allegedly being used as cannon fodder in a war that has seen an estimated one million Russian casualties since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
The recruitment methods have been widely condemned. Reports suggest Africans are being targeted with promises of lucrative employment, only to find themselves coerced into military service. In a high-profile case, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma, resigned as an MP over allegations she tricked 17 men into fighting for Russia. The men, aged 20 to 39, were reportedly lured by fake job contracts and later sent distress calls from the Donbas region.
Similar deceptive campaigns are said to have tricked women from South Africa and other African nations into working in Russian drone factories, having been promised jobs in catering or hospitality.
Personal Testimonies from the Front Line
The human cost of this exploitation is starkly illustrated by individual stories. Kenyan long-distance runner Evans Kibet claims he was duped after travelling to St Petersburg for a cultural festival in July. Persuaded to sign documents in Russian for a work visa, he says his passport was seized and he was taken to a military facility. After five days of training, he was sent to the frontline.
'I was so scared that I would never see my daughter again,' Kibet stated. Witnessing heavy casualties, he deserted, eventually surrendering to Ukrainian forces who took him as a prisoner of war. His account echoes reports from Kenya last year that some of its citizens had been detained in Russian camps after being unwittingly caught in the conflict.
Reflecting on the situation, Ambassador Scherba concluded: 'There might be all kinds of charm offensives on the African continent, but once an African person comes to this war, they just become meat for the meat grinder.' He added that Russia 'looks at Africa through imperial eyes' and does not value Africans, regardless of their initial loyalty.
