African Men Tricked into Fighting for Russia After Promises of Civilian Jobs
Kampala, 18 January 2026
Dozens of African nationals, including Ugandans and Nigerians, claim they were deceived into joining Russia’s military after being promised well-paying civilian work in supermarkets and factories. Richard Akantorana, a 44-year-old Ugandan father, escaped and surrendered to Ukrainian forces as a prisoner of war, pleading for government intervention to rescue compatriots still trapped in Russian ranks.
Deceptive Recruitment Scheme Exposed
Richard Akantorana, born in 1982, travelled to Russia with three other Ugandans after being promised well-paying jobs in supermarkets, factories, airport security, or cleaning services [1]. The 44-year-old father of two secured a loan to finance his travel, believing the recruitment arrangement was legitimate [1]. However, upon arrival in Balashikha, Russia, Akantorana and his companions were forced to join the Russian military at gunpoint [1]. “I didn’t know we were going to Balashikha. I knew we were going to the supermarket…Sorry guys, you are joining the Russian military…He put us at gunpoint and said you have to sign these papers,” Akantorana recounted [1].
From Promises to Prison Camps
The recruitment deception extends far beyond Uganda’s borders, with similar patterns emerging across Africa. Nigerian mechanic Bankole Manchi, aged 36, left Lagos after being offered what appeared to be a legitimate overseas job with promises of earning approximately ₦500,000 monthly [3]. A middleman facilitated his travel via Addis Ababa to Moscow, providing documents that required minimal personal details [3]. Upon arrival in Russia, Manchi was handed over to unidentified men and taken to a military-style camp rather than a workplace, where he allegedly met other recruits from Nigeria, Ghana, France, Brazil, and China [3]. Akantorana’s group was transported overnight in a large truck to an undisclosed location, then held underground in a forested area under horrible conditions [1].
Forced Military Training and Combat Deployment
The African recruits faced language barriers and relied on translation apps whilst being told there was “no way out” [3]. Training reportedly escalated from drills to weapons handling, grenade practice, and night operations, with injured recruits allegedly forced to continue [3]. Manchi claimed they were moved at night into Ukrainian territory, where heavy gunfire erupted shortly after arrival, and he was shot in the leg, surviving for days with minimal food and water before receiving medical attention [3]. He described African recruits as being treated as “disposable fighters” in a conflict they never consented to join [3]. Ukrainian authorities estimate that between 3,000 and 4,000 Africans are currently fighting in Russian ranks [5].
Desperate Pleas for Government Intervention
Akantorana managed to escape and encountered soldiers from Ukraine’s 63rd Separate Mechanized Brigade, though the fate of the other three Ugandans remains unknown [1]. “I have escaped by God’s grace. The others are in jail somewhere; I don’t know where,” he stated [1]. Now a prisoner of war in Ukraine after surrendering to Ukrainian forces, Akantorana has made a direct appeal to his government: “My country Uganda, please, we have a lot of Ugandans who were deceived here who want to come back home. Please do the necessary thing to bring them back home” [1]. Videos circulating online since the weekend of 11 January 2026 show black soldiers in military fatigues pleading to be sent back to their home countries [5]. Human rights groups are calling for urgent investigations by African governments, international organisations, and the United Nations, though neither the Russian government nor the alleged recruitment company ST3 Metal LLC has officially responded to the allegations [3].