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www.dw.com • October 7, 2026

A group of Indian nationals traveled to Russia for a vacation. They wound up on the front-line - conscripted against their will by the Russian army. And this is not an isolated case, with frequent reports of foreigners falling into the clutches of Russian recruiters. Russia needs a reliable supply of new soldiers for the war against Ukraine. But the Kremlin wants to avoid a mass mobilization at . Instead, it is ramping up its international recruitment drive, targeting men from countries like Kenya, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Cuba and Central Asia. Some are lured by money, others by promises of work or study opportunities.

Ukraine says more than 27,000 foreign fighters are now fighting on the Russian side. The film takes viewers to Ukraine, Kenya and India, features interviews with the relatives of fallen foreign soldiers, survivors and Ukrainian investigators, and reveals how Russia is exploiting economic hardship in poorer countries and, with the help of dubious intermediaries, recruiting ‘cannon fodder’ for its war against Ukraine.

MON 05.10.2026 – 18:30 UTC MON 05.10.2026 – 23:30 UTC TUE 06.10.2026 – 03:30 UTC TUE 06.10.2026 – 09:15 UTC TUE 06.10.2026 – 12:15 UTC TUE 06.10.2026 – 14:15 UTC TUE 06.10.2026 – 21:15 UTC WED 07.10.2026 – 07:15 UTC WED 07.10.2026 – 10:15 UTC WED 07.10.2026 – 17:30 UTC

The full story

This article is one source in a clustered incident — the cluster page carries the summary, timeline and every other outlet covering it.

Russia's Covert Military Recruitment Targets Africans via Western Platforms An investigation has revealed that Russian military recruitment networks are exploiting Western tech platforms to recruit individuals from African nations for the war in Ukraine. The research identified 289 digital assets used to lure potential recruits with false advertisements and forged endorsements. Over 3,000 Africans from countries like Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, and Kenya have reportedly been recruited, with a significant number killed in combat. The recruitment tactics include misleading ads for construction work and film roles, utilizing a 'burn and replace' strategy for disposable websites. Companies like Meta, TikTok, and Google are implicated for allowing these criminal operations to thrive on their platforms. A high-profile case in South Africa has drawn attention to the issue, as authorities work to repatriate citizens deceived into fighting for Russia. The investigation highlights the need for greater accountability from digital companies in regulating content that supports military recruitment efforts. 2 sources 60

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Cuba India Kenya Nepal Russia Sri Lanka Ukraine