Ghana News
African Men Lured to Russia with Fake Jobs, Forced into Ukraine War Frontlines – Report
In a disturbing exposé highlighting the human cost of Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, dozens of African men—many from Kenya—have been deceived through false job promises, only to be trafficked, conscripted into the Russian military, and deployed to deadly frontlines with minimal or no training.
The revelations, detailed in an exclusive Guardian investigation published on January 26, 2026, underscore a growing pattern of exploitation targeting vulnerable youth amid high unemployment across the continent.
According to the report, recruitment networks operating through local employment agencies in countries like Kenya posted enticing online adverts for civilian roles such as plumbing, security guarding, or other ordinary jobs in Russia. Promises included monthly salaries of around 100,000 Kenyan shillings (approximately £567 or $700 USD), covered airfare, and visa processing. Applicants, often desperate young men, paid upfront fees—such as 25,000 Kenyan shillings—to secure these “opportunities.”
Upon arrival in cities like St Petersburg, the deception unraveled. Victims reported having their luggage confiscated, being forced to wear black clothing, fingerprinted, and coerced into signing Russian-language contracts they could not understand. The next day, they were transported to military facilities for processing as official Russian soldiers, issued IDs, uniforms, and assault rifles. With little to no combat training, many were rushed to camps near the Ukraine border in Belgorod and then straight to active battle zones.
One Kenyan escapee, using the pseudonym Stephen Oduor (24), described the horror:
“I didn’t know how to shoot anything.” Recounting a drone attack, he said, “I just saw death … I knew this was the end of us.” After surviving, he reflected on the trauma: “When you see someone dying and his head falling off, that disturbs you. It disturbed me a lot.”
The scale is alarming. Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs estimates more than 200 Kenyan nationals may be caught up in the conflict. Ukraine’s foreign minister has reported over 1,400 fighters from 36 African countries serving with Russian forces, many held as prisoners of war. Similar cases involve men from Uganda, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, and beyond.
Evidence points to systemic mistreatment, including racist abuse. Footage cited in related reports shows black recruits derogatorily labeled “disposables” or “piece of coal,” with some allegedly used as “mayachki” (beacons) to draw enemy fire or even strapped with explosives in high-risk assaults.
Families left behind endure anguish. Susan Kuloba, whose son David sent a final voice message from the front, shared:
“In case of anything, you’ll get a call to inform you whether I’ll have died or I’ll be alive… I love you all very much.” She added, “What hurts is I don’t know whether he’s dead or alive.”
Kenya has repatriated 28 nationals since December 2025 and is engaging Russian and Ukrainian authorities for more releases. However, Russia’s foreign ministry and embassy in Nairobi have not responded to inquiries. Broader investigations, including from CNN and The Washington Post in early February 2026, confirm a “secret pipeline” exploiting youth unemployment and weak oversight of recruitment agencies.
This emerging crisis raises urgent questions about human trafficking, international accountability, and the exploitation of African migrants in foreign conflicts. As Russia’s war effort seeks to replenish depleted ranks, experts warn that without stronger safeguards, more vulnerable individuals could fall victim to similar schemes.
For those affected or with information, Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and regional embassies urge citizens to verify overseas job offers rigorously and report suspicious recruitment.
Ghana News
Russian Embassy Criticized for “Empty” Statement on Viral Exploitation Videos involving Citizen
The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Ghana has issued a brief statement in the wake of widespread public anger and social media uproar over allegations that Russian nationals are luring young Ghanaian women into filmed sexual encounters for online distribution without consent.
The release posted on X on February 16, 2026, fails to condemn the alleged exploitation, non-consensual recording, and distribution of intimate material by its nationals.
“The Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Ghana has taken note of the reports in the Ghanaian media on the alleged involvement of a supposedly Russian citizen engaged in sexual activities with some Ghanaian women and recorded those acts without consent,” the post read.
The response comes after days of viral outrage on X, TikTok, Instagram, and WhatsApp groups, where screenshots, testimonies, and alleged links to explicit content prompted hashtags such as #ProtectGhanaianWomen and #StopTheRussianScheme.
MP Sam George, chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Gender, Children and Social Protection, has announced Ghana’s intent to pursue extradition if the primary suspect.
Responses on X
Responses to the post have been stronly worded. One person posted:
“Never trust those Russian scum. They throw African men into their war as cannon fodder & treat African women like disposable sex toys. Pure racist evil. Predators, not partners. WAKE UP AFRICA.”
Another asked:
“Any action taken?”
Another asked:
“So after taking the note, what next?”
Ghanaian authorities have disclosed they will pursue extradition proceedings against the man, said to have left Ghana.
The decision was announced by Member of Parliament Sam George on February 13, 2026, following weeks of public outrage over the alleged scheme.
According to Sam George — who chairs the Parliamentary Committee on Gender, Children and Social Protection — the suspect is believed to be a Russian national who used dating apps and social media to target young Ghanaian women, particularly students and professionals in Accra and other urban centres.
Victims were reportedly lured with promises of money, gifts or relationships, only to discover later that explicit videos were uploaded to adult websites and shared in private groups, often leading to blackmail, humiliation and threats.
A now-viral video purports to show the Russian national who previously gained attention in Ghana for controversial secret videos being arrested in Tokyo.
The video captures the man often identified in online reports by the username “Yaytsesl” being handcuffed and his rights being read to him by a Japanese law enforcement officer.
Arrest captured in partially verified video
The partially blurred footage circulating online shows Japanese police officers informing the man of his rights to remain silent in English while placing him under arrest.
In the video, officers say they had reviewed his online content before taking action.
The man is heard responding that he had never been arrested before and asking what personal items he would be allowed to bring.
The authenticity of the footage has not been independently verified.
Background: online activity linked to Ghana controversy
The suspect had drawn international attention after posting videos involving escapes with women in Kenya and Ghana that sparked widespread backlash.
The content allegedly included exploitative online material tied to vulnerable individuals, which triggered outrage among social media users and prompted calls for investigation.
Ghanaian authorities later confirmed they were aware of the situation and had initiated inquiries into the man’s activities while he was in the country. Officials indicated they were cooperating with international partners as part of broader investigations.
Reports from African and Russian media described the man as a self-proclaimed “pick-up artist” and online blogger in his 30s who travelled to Ghana and other African countries, where he allegedly recorded interactions with women without their knowledge.
Media outlets in both regions also alleged that he used sunglasses equipped with a hidden camera to capture some of the encounters and later shared the footage on social media, although authorities have not officially confirmed these claims.
Cross-border legal implications
Japanese police have not publicly disclosed the exact charges, but the arrest, if confirmed, highlights how digital activity can lead to international law enforcement action. Authorities reportedly acted after reviewing evidence linked to his online conduct.
The case has also sparked debate in Ghana about online exploitation, digital regulation, and the protection of vulnerable populations in the age of social media.
In Ghana, under the Cybersecurity Act 2020, the law punishes those who share nude photos or videos online, especially of women and children, often for revenge or blackmail.
Several Ghanaian traders are feared dead after a truck carrying tomato merchants from Ghana was attacked by suspected terrorists in Titao, Burkina Faso, on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
In an official statement issued on February 14, 2026, Ghana’s Ministry of the Interior and National Security described the incident as “disturbing,” reflecting the gravity of the situation, but kept its lips tight about casualties.
The release, signed by Minister Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka (MP), stated that the vehicle transporting the traders was caught in the terrorist attack in the northern Burkinabè town of Titao, near the Ghana border.
“The Ghana Embassy in Burkina Faso is liaising with the officials of Burkina Faso to visit the attack site for details and identification of Ghanaians caught in the attack,” the statement read. “Further details would be communicated to the public.”
While no official casualty figures have been released by Ghanaian or Burkinabè authorities as of February 15, 2026, and the identities of those affected remain unconfirmed, reports on social media, where the news about the attack first broke, suggest at least seven of the traders hit have died.
The attack took place in a region of Burkina Faso that has seen frequent jihadist incursions by groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates operating in the Sahel.
Cross-border trade in agricultural goods, especially tomatoes, onions, and other perishables, is a major economic lifeline for communities on both sides of the Ghana-Burkina Faso frontier. However, escalating insecurity in northern Burkina Faso has increasingly disrupted commercial movements, raised insurance costs, and threatened livelihoods.
The Ministry’s prompt public communication reflects growing concern over the safety of Ghanaian nationals operating in volatile border areas. Ghanaian consular officials are expected to provide further updates as more information emerges from the joint site visit.
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