Russia has recruited over 28,000 foreigners; Kenya and Botswana are asking for return of prisoners, - Bloomberg
Several African countries have asked Ukraine to return their citizens who fought on Russia’s side and were taken prisoner by Ukraine.
According to Censor.NET, Bloomberg reports on this.
Specifically, Kenya is negotiating the return of five of its citizens, while Botswana is negotiating the return of one. At the same time, Kyiv insists that foreign prisoners of war can be returned home as part of an exchange for Ukrainians held by Russia.
Kenya wants to bring back five of its citizens
Kenyan President William Ruto discussed the issue of the return of Kenyans in a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Kenyan Foreign Minister Musalia Mudawadi told lawmakers in Nairobi that his country insists that the detained Kenyans be recognized as victims of human trafficking, not prisoners of war.
According to him, the men claim they were recruited to Russia under the pretext of finding employment.
"The circumstances surrounding their recruitment and conscription amount to human trafficking," Mudawadi said.
The youngest Kenyan citizen currently held in a Ukrainian prisoner-of-war camp is 23 years old.
According to Kenya's foreign minister, about 84 Kenyan citizens have been killed or are missing, another 34 are in hospitals in Russia, and 62 have already returned home.
Foreigners were promised civilian jobs, but were sent to the front lines
African governments claim that some of their citizens may have been deceived during the recruitment process for service in Russia. According to their reports, the men were promised civilian jobs—such as drivers, security guards, or cooks—but were later enlisted in the Russian army.
Zimbabwe has also expressed concern over the deceptive recruitment of its citizens abroad. The government stated that some people with no prior military training were sent to active front lines.
At the same time, Zimbabwe’s statement did not explicitly name Russia or Ukraine. Earlier, several suspects were detained in the country on suspicion of involvement in recruitment, including two Russian citizens. They are awaiting trial.
Botswana reported on August 21 that eight citizens had been detained at airports in Botswana, South Africa, and Ethiopia; according to authorities, they were planning to be recruited into the Russian army. The country’s government had previously warned of the risk of forced recruitment.
Russia has recruited more than 28,000 foreigners
According to the Ukrainian government's website, Russia has recruited more than 28,000 foreigners from 135 countries. More than 5,000 of them have been killed. Ukrainian forces have taken citizens of 51 countries prisoner.
Documents reviewed by Bloomberg indicate that Ukraine is holding at least 213 foreign military personnel, not including citizens of Russia and North Korea. Among them are 37 citizens of African countries.
Ukraine links the return of foreign prisoners of war to a prisoner exchange
The possibilities for returning foreign prisoners of war to their countries of origin remain limited.
Ukraine insists that their return is possible as part of an exchange for Ukrainian prisoners of war held by Russia.
Thus, the request by African countries to have their citizens returned is linked not only to diplomatic agreements but also to the issue of prisoner exchanges and the circumstances under which foreigners were recruited into the Russian army.
