Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on Kenya and 46 other countries to take action to prevent their citizens from being recruited into Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Speaking during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) on Wednesday, September 23, Zelenskyy singled out Kenya among 47 countries whose citizens he said were being used by Russia in its military operations.
He also named Sudan, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Nepal, Tajikistan, India, Yemen, Cuba and Belarus, among other countries.
Zelenskyy directly appealed to representatives of the affected countries to intervene and protect their nationals from being drawn deeper into the conflict.
“I want to speak directly to every representative of these 47 countries. You know what Russia is doing with your people, your citizens. Take care of them. Do not let them end up on another front. Do not let Russian President Vladimir Putin drag you into this war,” he said.
The Ukrainian president also urged the countries to take measures that would limit Russia’s ability to finance and sustain its military campaign.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine had received requests from some foreign governments seeking the return of their citizens who had been captured and held as prisoners of war.
He further said Ukraine had identified foreign nationals among those killed on the battlefield, based on footage obtained from its military operations.
According to Zelenskyy, some foreign recruits were taken to Russia through deceptive recruitment schemes before eventually being deployed to fight in Ukraine.
His remarks come as the Russia-Ukraine war enters its fifth year following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The recruitment of Kenyans into the Russian military has emerged as a growing concern, with a National Intelligence Service (NIS) report estimating that about 1,000 Kenyans had been recruited, including 89 who were on the frontline as of February.
The issue has also come under scrutiny in Kenya, with two Senate committees recently summoning Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua and Attorney-General Dorcas Oduor to respond to questions over the recruitment of Kenyans into the Russian military.
The Senate inquiry has heard accounts from families whose relatives died, went missing, sustained injuries or were captured as prisoners of war in Ukraine after travelling to Russia.
The Kenyan government has previously said it is pursuing diplomatic efforts to secure consular access to affected citizens, facilitate their disengagement from the Russian military and support their return home.
