55 Ghanaians killed in Russia-Ukraine war as Ghana investigates illegal recruitment of Africans

KYIV, Ukraine (Running Africa) — Speaking during an official visit to Kyiv, Ablakwa said around 272 Ghanaian nationals are believed to have been drawn into the conflict since 2022, many through deceptive recruitment schemes. He stressed that the scale of the issue makes it "impossible for Ghana to ignore."

According to the BBC, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha confirmed that about 1,700 individuals from 36 African countries have been recruited to support Russia's war effort. However, he did not clarify which side the Ghanaian fighters had joined.

Ablakwa said the Ghanaian government is now working to track and dismantle illegal recruitment networks operating on the dark web, while launching nationwide awareness campaigns to warn young people about recruitment scams linked to the war.

Kenya Investigates Recruitment Allegations

Image: Reuters

Concerns about African recruitment into the war have also surfaced in Kenya, where authorities recently accused Festus Arasa Omwamba of recruiting young men with promises of jobs in Russia before they were allegedly sent to fight in Ukraine. Omwamba has denied the allegations.

A report from Kenya's National Intelligence Service (NIS) claims that about 1,000 Kenyans may have been recruited to fight alongside Russian forces during the nearly four-year conflict.

The Russian embassy in Kenya has rejected the claims, stating that Russian law allows foreign nationals legally present in the country to volunteer for military service.

African Casualties Rising

Image: ZMINA

The war has increasingly drawn in fighters from across Africa. A recent report by Code for Africa (CfA) estimates that around 150 Cameroonians, 50 Burkinabè, and 25 Egyptians have been killed in the conflict.

Research from the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) suggests that between 3,000 and 4,000 Africans could be among the 18,000–20,000 foreign fighters believed to be serving in the Russian military.

Nigeria has also raised an alarm over recruitment schemes. The country's foreign ministry recently warned of a growing trend of Nigerians being illegally recruited for foreign wars, following reports from Ukrainian authorities that two Nigerian nationals were killed in combat last year.

Although Nigeria has not officially confirmed the deaths, foreign ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa said many victims were misled into signing military contracts and deployed to front-line combat zones.

Ghana Seeks Release of Captured Nationals

Image: president.gov.ua

During his visit to Kyiv, Ablakwa also appealed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the release of two Ghanaian prisoners of war believed to have been captured while fighting for Russian forces.

"They are victims of illicit trafficking networks, disinformation, and manipulation," Ablakwa said, thanking Ukrainian authorities for ensuring the detainees are treated in accordance with international law.

"According to the reports we've received, they are doing well," he added.

The growing number of African nationals involved in the Russia–Ukraine war has raised urgent concerns among African governments about human trafficking, recruitment scams, and the exploitation of vulnerable young people seeking jobs abroad.