Mercenary from Botswana recruited by Russia via WhatsApp killed in Luhansk region – DIU. PHOTO
Ukrainian intelligence officers have identified a Botswanan national who fought on Russia’s side and was killed near Novoliubivka in the Luhansk region. The man was recruited through WhatsApp and sent to occupied Ukrainian territory after a brief period of training.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence (DIU) reported this, according to Censor.NET.
According to DIU, the man killed was 25-year-old Pako Namogang. He became the first identified Botswanan national to have died while serving in the Russian occupation forces.
A Russian recruiter contacted him through the Work in Russia WhatsApp chat, where he openly offered enlistment in the Russian army. The intelligence agency stresses that the Botswanan knowingly agreed to fight against Ukraine.
Furthermore, Namogang provided Russian recruiters with the personal and passport details of his friends. Their subsequent fate remains unknown.
On 6 July 2026, the man flew from Johannesburg to Moscow. Before the trip, he was promised assistance with check-in and boarding his flight in South Africa. DIU suggests that a representative of Russia’s trade mission may have been involved.
On 21 July, Namogang signed a one-year contract with the Russian army. According to intelligence information, his travel arrangements and paperwork were handled by intermediaries who recruit foreigners and arrange their transport to the occupation forces.
After signing the contract, the mercenary was housed alongside other foreigners at the Avangard centre for the military-patriotic education of young people in Patriot Park outside Moscow.
DIU says instructors at this centre are involved in training foreign mercenaries. Russia is thus using infrastructure intended for youth education for military purposes.
Namogang was subsequently transferred to a Russian army training centre, where he spent a week and a half before being sent to temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory.
He was reportedly killed in mid-August 2026 during fighting near Novolubivka in the Luhansk region.
According to the "I Want to Live" project, at least 25 Botswanan nationals have signed contracts with Russian forces. One of them is in Ukrainian captivity, and at least one other has been killed.
DIU also noted that organising the recruitment of mercenaries in South Africa may violate local legislation governing the provision of foreign military assistance.
