African Men Lured to Russia With Job Promises, Sent to Ukraine Frontlines — CNN Investigation

African recruit in Russian military uniform during Ukraine war, CNN investigation reveals alleged deception and frontline deployment.

By Staff Reporter

Hundreds of African men are being drawn into Russia’s war in Ukraine after being promised civilian jobs, good pay, and a better life, only to find themselves wearing military uniforms and sent to the frontlines with little training, according to a new CNN investigation. What was advertised as construction work, factory jobs, or technical employment has, for many, turned into a one-way ticket to a battlefield. CNN reports that African recruits are allegedly given as little as three weeks of basic military training before being deployed into active combat zones in Ukraine, one of the most dangerous theatres of war in the world.

In one disturbing video obtained by the broadcaster, an African man wearing a Russian military uniform is seen with a landmine strapped to his chest, being ordered to advance toward Ukrainian positions. A Russian-speaking commander can be heard using a racist slur, describing the man as a “can opener,” a human tool meant to trigger explosions and expose enemy bunkers. The footage has sparked outrage and renewed concern over how foreign fighters, particularly Africans, are being treated inside the Russian military.

“African Men Are Being Taken to the Frontlines”

CNN reporter Larry Madowo highlighted the case of Anne Njeri Ndarua, a Kenyan mother who has not heard directly from her son, Francis, since October 2023.

Francis, a trained electrical engineer, had travelled to Russia after being promised civilian employment. Instead, his family says he was forced to sign a military contract and sent to fight in Ukraine. Recently, Anne received a video from an unknown Kenyan number. In it, her son delivers a chilling warning:

“Be careful, you guys, because people are being taken there, and you end up being taken to the military. And you are taken in front-line battle. There are true killings.”

Francis’s story is not unique. CNN spoke to more than a dozen African fighters currently on the frontlines, many of whom said they were made to sign Russian-language military contracts without translators or legal advice. Several claim they were misled, pressured, or outright coerced.

CNN Alleges Racism, Unpaid Salaries, and No Way Out

According to those interviewed, African recruits face racism from commanders, unpaid wages, and conditions that make escape nearly impossible. Nearly all described feeling trapped. Exact numbers remain unclear, but Africans fighting for Russia now come from multiple countries across the continent. Ironically, while some men are desperately trying to flee, others continue to post social media videos glamorising life in the Russian army, encouraging fellow Africans to join.

In one such clip, an African fighter claims his salary could support a family back home for two to three years, a powerful message in countries battling unemployment and economic hardship. Recruitment adverts reviewed by CNN promise sign-on bonuses of up to US$13,000, monthly salaries of US$3,500, and even Russian citizenship after one year of service.

“I Still Carry Shrapnel in My Body”

One of the few who made it out is Patrick Kwoba, who escaped and returned to Nairobi after being injured in a Ukrainian drone ambush. Kwoba told CNN that shrapnel tore through his clothing, burning his legs and buttocks. His food backpack and armour vest saved his life, but fragments of metal remain lodged in his body. While recovering, he fled to the Kenyan embassy in Moscow and never returned to the frontlines.

For families across Africa, his survival offers hope but also raises painful questions about how many others are still trapped in a war they never agreed to fight.

African Man; Russia; Ukraine Frontlines; CNN; Nairobi; Racism