African athlete lured to Russia for work, ends up on front lines of Ukraine war
2 days ago
- #Russia-Ukraine war
- #Prisoners of war
- #African athletes
- Evans Kibet, a Kenyan athlete, was tricked into traveling to Russia under false pretenses and ended up conscripted into the Russian military.
- He was sent to the front lines in Ukraine, where he was captured and is now held as a prisoner of war.
- Evans claims he signed a contract in Russian without understanding its contents, believing it was for a job opportunity.
- Many other African men, including athletes and professionals, have been similarly deceived into fighting for Russia.
- Ukraine holds numerous foreign fighters as POWs, with many claiming they were tricked into joining the war.
- African governments, including Kenya, are aware of the issue and are seeking the return of their citizens.
- Russia is allegedly exploiting economic vulnerabilities in Africa to recruit men desperate for work.
- Prisoner conditions in Ukraine are basic, with limited communication options for the detainees.
- Ukraine is open to negotiations for the repatriation of foreign POWs but prioritizes the return of its own soldiers.
- The situation highlights the broader issue of foreign fighters being used in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.