Kenya Named Among Countries Helping Russia in War against Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has named Kenya among 47 countries whose citizens he claims Russia is using in its war against Ukraine, urging governments to protect their nationals from being drawn into the conflict.

Zelenskyy made the remarks while delivering Ukraine’s national statement at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, where he appealed to representatives of the countries he said had citizens fighting for Russia.

“We know that Russia uses citizens of 47 countries in its war,” Zelenskyy said, before listing Ghana, Nepal, Tajikistan, India, Yemen, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Belarus, Sudan and South Africa among others.

Zelenskyy’s remarks included Kenya among countries from Africa, Asia and other regions whose nationals, according to the Ukrainian president, have been recruited or otherwise drawn into Russia’s military operations.

“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 and do not let them end up on another front,” he said.

The Ukrainian leader said some foreign nationals had ended up in Russia through what he described as “deception and tricks”, while others had subsequently been deployed to the battlefield.

He said Ukraine had evidence of foreign nationals dying in combat.

“Through their videos from our drones, we also see people dying on the battlefield who are not Russians. People from your countries, 47 countries, who ended up in Russia through deception and tricks,” he said.

Zelenskyy’s remarks come amid continued international attention on the recruitment of foreign nationals into Russia’s military as the war with Ukraine enters another year.

The Ukrainian president did not provide a country-by-country breakdown of the 47 countries or give the number of Kenyans he was referring to in his address. Reports from other countries, however, have documented cases of foreign nationals being recruited into the Russian armed forces.

Kenya has previously been linked to concerns over its nationals travelling to Russia for employment opportunities before reports that some later became involved in the war.

Zelenskyy used his address to urge the affected governments to act to prevent their citizens from becoming involved in the conflict.

“Take care of them, and do not let them end up on another front,” he said.

He also called on countries to restrict Moscow’s ability to finance and prosecute the war.

“Limit his room to act, limit his money, limit his war,” Zelenskyy told the UN General Assembly.

The Ukrainian president’s appeal comes as world leaders gather in New York for the annual UN meeting, with the Russia-Ukraine war remaining one of the major issues before the international community.

Zelenskyy has repeatedly used international forums to call for greater pressure on Russia and support for Ukraine, while Moscow has maintained its own position on the war and its military objectives.

His latest intervention puts the issue of foreign recruitment before governments whose citizens he says are involved.

For Kenya, the mention comes as President William Ruto attended the UN General Assembly in New York, where he has been leading the country’s delegation and delivering Kenya’s national statement.

The Kenyan Government has not, in the material cited for this report, provided a public figure for the number of Kenyans Zelenskyy said were involved in Russia’s military operations.

Zelenskyy’s warning nevertheless adds an international dimension to concerns over Kenyans who may have travelled to Russia and subsequently become involved in the conflict.