Over 1,700 mercenaries from Africa fighting within Russian forces
More than 1,700 mercenaries from 36 African countries are fighting against Ukraine as part of the Russian forces.
Source: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha at a joint press conference with his Ghanaian counterpart Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa in Kyiv on Wednesday, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine
Quote from Sybiha: "We clearly see that Russia is trying to drag residents of Africa into this war to die. Our data shows that as of today, more than 1,780 citizens from the African continent are fighting in the Russian army. That is, we are talking about mercenaries."
Details: Syniha said that mercenaries from 36 African countries are taking part in the war against Ukraine. He added that Russia is fraudulently recruiting these citizens into the war.
"It is very important to counter this, both in individual capitals and in cooperation with Ukraine: to expose the schemes and not allow your citizens to be drawn into someone else's war," the minister stressed.
Background:
- On 25 February, Ablakwa arrived in Ukraine. This is the first standalone visit by an African foreign minister to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war.
- In January, Sybiha responded to an appeal regarding a captured Ghanaian citizen and invited Ablakwa to visit Ukraine.
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