Ghana has called on russia to stop recruiting Ghanaian citizens to fight in its war against Ukraine, according to Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation.
The issue was reportedly raised during a meeting between the foreign ministers of Ghana and russia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed that Moscow had received similar requests from several other African countries.
Read more: russia's African Corps Trains Airborne Troops in Mali, Despite Country Operating Only Two Mi-24s, Five Mi-8 Helicopters
South Africa, Kenya and Botswana have also asked russia to stop recruiting their citizens for military service. The repeated appeals suggest that the recruitment of foreign nationals has become a growing concern for African governments.
The Center for Countering Disinformation estimates that russia had recruited around 18,000 foreign nationals from 128 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America by the end of 2025. At least 3,300 of those recruits were reportedly killed in combat.
Russia intends to recruit at least another 18,500 foreigners by the end of 2026. If realized, the figure would further expand Moscow's reliance on foreign personnel to replenish its forces amid the ongoing war against Ukraine.
Russian recruitment campaigns reportedly target foreigners with promises of well-paid civilian employment, including security jobs, before encouraging them to join the military. Recruits may also be offered large financial payments and expedited access to russian citizenship.
The Center for Countering Disinformation says russian structures use deception and manipulation to attract foreign nationals. In some cases, people may reportedly discover that the job they were promised has instead placed them in the russian military and on the battlefield in Ukraine.
Read more: How African Climate Shapes Drone Requirements, Why Ukraine's Experience Doesn't Always Apply and Fixed-Wing UAVs Replace Fighter Jets on Continent
