Ukraine urges African countries to counter Russian schemes to recruit young people for war

The ministry's spokesperson, Heorhii Tykhyi, said this in a post on the social media platform X, Ukrinform reports.

Tykhyi noted that Russia's illicit recruiting efforts in Africa make headlines across the continent, from Kenya to Botswana, and backfire on Moscow. He also added that what has been revealed thus far "is likely just the tip of the iceberg."

"We urge all African media and governments to take bold action to stop Russian programs that are luring youth throughout the continent into its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine," Tykhyi said.

He also drew attention to the fact that Russia is dramatically increasing scholarships for African students in the upcoming academic year.

"Surely no one should be so naive as to believe that this is about education," Tykhyi said.

In this context, he stressed that to fight Russia's government-led recruitment activities, systemic countermeasures are required, such as formal warnings to citizens to raise their awareness, as well as legal action to disclose and disrupt recruitment programs and hold those responsible accountable.

On November 6, the South African government said it had received requests for assistance from 17 citizens who are taking part in hostilities in Ukraine and is working to bring them home.

It later emerged that Duduzile Zuma, the daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, was linked to the recruitment of men from South Africa and Botswana to serve in the Russian armed forces in the war against Ukraine. On November 28, she relinquished her parliamentary mandate amid reports of her involvement in recruitment for the Russian army.