Police break up ring trafficking Kenyans to fight for Russia in Ukraine
5 hours ago
- #prisoners-of-war
- #Kenya-Russia
- #human-trafficking
- Police in Kenya rescued over 20 people from a human trafficking ring that promised jobs in Russia but intended to send them to fight in Ukraine.
- A suspect coordinating the victims' travel to Russia was arrested and detained for 10 days pending investigations.
- Victims were lured with job offers in Moscow, signing contracts with an unnamed agency and paying up to $18,000 for visas and travel.
- Some victims had already paid deposits of $1,500, with many returning injured or traumatized, or not returning at all.
- A Kenyan athlete was recently captured in Ukraine, claiming he was tricked into joining the Russian army.
- Kenyan authorities are investigating reports of nationals trafficked to Russia and held as prisoners of war in Ukraine.
- Other countries, including Somalia, Sierra Leone, and Cuba, also have citizens held in Ukrainian prisoner-of-war camps.
- African states have shown little interest in the return of their citizens held as prisoners of war in Ukraine.