Zelenskyy Says Zimbabwe Among 47 Countries
By Staff Reporter
HARARE-Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has claimed that Russia is using citizens from 47 countries in its war against Ukraine, naming Zimbabwe among the countries whose nationals he said had been drawn into the conflict.
Zelenskyy made the claim while addressing the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday. “We know that Russia uses citizens of 47 countries in its war, in this war,” Zelenskyy said, before naming Ghana, Nepal, Tajikistan, India, Yemen, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Belarus and South Africa, among others. The Ukrainian president did not provide a complete list of the 47 countries in his speech, nor did he give a figure for the number of citizens from any individual country, including Zimbabwe.
He also did not provide details in the address on how many Zimbabweans he alleged were involved or the circumstances under which they may have travelled to Russia. Zelenskyy said Ukraine had encountered foreign nationals among people involved in the war and claimed that some had ended up in Russia through what he described as “deception and tricks”. “People from your countries – 47 countries – who ended up in Russia through deception and tricks,” he said.
He appealed directly to governments whose nationals he said were being used by Russia to take steps to protect their citizens. “I want to speak directly to every representative of these 47 countries: You know what Russia is doing with your people, your citizens. Take care of them. And do not let them end up on another front,” Zelenskyy said.
Zimbabwe's inclusion
Zimbabwe's inclusion in the 47-country figure therefore comes directly from Zelenskyy's statement, rather than from an independently published Ukrainian government breakdown identifying all 47 countries. The Ukrainian president's remarks also do not establish how many Zimbabweans, if any, are currently serving with Russian forces.
The statement comes amid broader reports and diplomatic concerns over the involvement of foreign nationals in Russia's military effort. Zelenskyy specifically referred to prisoners of war from countries other than Russia and North Korea during his address. The claim about the 47 countries and the alleged involvement of their nationals should therefore be attributed to the Ukrainian president unless further independent evidence is published.
Zimbabweans recruited by Russia
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