Kenyan Fighters Killed in Ukraine After Joining Russian Army, Intelligence Says

Ukraine’s Military Intelligence (HUR) said Kenyan recruits fighting for Russia were sent into high-risk assaults near Kharkiv after brief training, with some killed. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied An image released by the Military Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR) showing a Kenyan national identified among foreign fighters killed while serving with Russian forces. (Photo via HUR) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google Ukraine’s Military Intelligence (HUR) said Thursday that it has identified a group of Kenyan nationals killed while fighting for the Russian Armed Forces. According to HUR’s Thursday update, Russian forces deployed a group of Kenyan citizens near the village of Borova in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, where they were killed by a Ukrainian mortar strike on an unspecified date in early 2026. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . Among those killed was Eric Mwangi Nyambura, a Kenyan national born in 2003, whose identity was confirmed by Ukraine’s “I Want to Live” project, a HUR hotline encouraging Russian troops to surrender. Three other Kenyans – Joseph Kamau Wanjiru, Joel Ngure Karithi, and Ronald Kipkurui Kibet – were said to have arrived in Russia alongside Nyambura in late October 2025. HUR said their arrivals coincided with those of two other Kenyan nationals, Ombwori Denis Bagaku and Wahome Simon Gitittu, whose arrivals had been confirmed earlier. The agency said the group traveled to the Russian city of Yaroslavl, where they signed military contracts and were sent to a training center. According to the statement, their training lasted about a week and a half before they were deployed. Mwangi was initially assigned as a radio operator but was later transferred to an assault unit and sent to the front, where he was killed in early 2026. HUR said the case reflects a broader pattern of Russia recruiting foreign nationals and deploying them in frontline assault roles. Other Topics of Interest Russia Floods Mali With Arms, Expands Footprint After Wagner Collapse The buildup follows years of stalled progress by Wagner fighters – deployed since 2021 – who failed to secure key victories against insurgents or gain access to Mali’s lucrative gold sector. Despite reported agreements between Moscow and some African countries to halt recruitment, the process has continued. HUR said it has identified 2,965 citizens from African countries who signed contracts with the Russian armed forces. The largest numbers of recruits come from countries including Kenya, Egypt, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Algeria, Mali, South Sudan and South Africa. As of August 2025, at least 316 African nationals fighting for Russia had been confirmed killed, according to HUR, which added that the actual number is likely higher. The agency warned foreign citizens against traveling to Russia for employment or military service, saying such individuals risk being deployed to frontline combat roles with limited preparation. The claims could not be independently verified. In 2025, Kyiv Post gained exclusive access to one of Ukraine’s largest prisoner of war (POW) camps and spoke with foreign fighters captured after serving in the Russian military. In the first interview, Joshua from Ghana explained how studying in Moscow and financial struggles led him to sign a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense. In the second interview, Mohammed Salah from Egypt described how visa problems pushed him to join the Russian army in exchange for citizenship. Kateryna investigates today's most important topics, from geopolitical challenges and defense strategies to stories that change the course of events. She explores the secrets of Ukraine's intelligence services and shows the hidden side of global events. Her passion is uncovering secrets that change history. Born and lives in Kyiv.