Several African Countries Ask Ukraine to Hand Back Citizens Captured Fighting for Russia
Kenya, Zimbabwe and Botswana are urging Ukraine to repatriate their citizens who were captured after serving in the Russian army. Ukraine is holding at least 213 foreign prisoners of war, 37 of them Africans.
Several African countries, including Kenya, Zimbabwe and Botswana, are asking Ukraine to release and send home their citizens who were captured by Ukraine's armed forces during the war with Russia, according to the Ukrainian outlet "dialog.ua". The issue matters because Russia is drawing foreign nationals into its war against Ukraine, and the governments of their home countries are now seeking a solution for their fate.
How many foreigners are in captivity
According to media data, Ukrainian prisoner-of-war camps hold at least 213 foreign nationals. Of these, 37 are citizens of African countries. Several African governments have demanded that Kyiv repatriate them, that is, return them to their home countries.
Claims of deception
African governments say some of their citizens were tricked. They were promised work, but after arriving in Russia they were forced to sign contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defence. After a short period of military training, and sometimes none at all, these people were sent to the front line.
Leaders of some African countries are negotiating directly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over the fate of their citizens who fought in the Russian army against Ukraine.
Foreign fighters in numbers
According to information provided by Ukraine, Russia has recruited more than 28,000 foreign nationals from 135 countries to fight against Ukraine. About 1,800 of them are from African countries. To date, more than 5,000 foreign mercenaries have been killed in the Russian army.
