Twenty-seven Ugandans who were enlisted to fight for Russia’s army in Ukraine have reportedly been killed or are presumed dead, Uganda’s embassy in Moscow disclosed in a letter sent to its foreign ministry.
The letter, seen by Reuters on Thursday, listed the names of 11 Ugandans confirmed dead and another 16 whose bodies could not be located anywhere, including among prisoners of war.
Uganda’s embassy said it had received the information in a letter from the Russian Foreign Ministry. An official at Uganda’s foreign ministry confirmed the authenticity of the letter. Russia’s embassy in Kampala did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reports of African men being lured to Russia with promises of jobs and ending up on Ukraine’s front lines have become frequent, triggering anger in countries like Kenya, Ghana and South Africa.
Ukraine said last year that more than 1,400 citizens from three African countries were fighting alongside Russian forces on its territory, with some recruited through deception. Russian authorities have denied illegally recruiting African citizens to fight in Ukraine. Those reports have sparked outrage from officials in countries like Kenya, Ghana and South Africa.
MG/abj/APA