Kenyan police have rescued more than twenty citizens from a human trafficking network that promised them jobs in Russia but was actually preparing to send them to fight in Ukraine. BBC reported on 27 September that the operation exposed a criminal pipeline exploiting jobseekers with fake contracts and deposits worth thousands of dollars.

Kenyan police uncover Russia-linked trafficking scheme

According to BBC, the intelligence-led raid took place on the outskirts of Nairobi in the Athi River area. Officers found 22 Kenyan citizens in a single apartment “awaiting processing to Russia.” Police seized recruitment materials, travel documents, and job offer letters.

One suspect accused of coordinating travel for the victims in September and October was arrested and taken to court. He was remanded for 10 days while detectives complete their investigation. 

Victims lured with fake Russian job contracts

Detectives told BBC the victims had signed contracts with an unnamed overseas employment agency committing to pay up to $18,000 for visas, travel, accommodation, and other logistics. Some had already paid deposits of $1,500. Police said many recruits end up returning home injured or traumatized, while some never return at all. Two Kenyans have recently come back from Russia, and one is currently hospitalized.

A young Kenyan athlete was captured in Ukraine, where he said he was tricked into joining the Russian army. 

A senior foreign ministry official recently said the government is following up on reports of several Kenyan nationals allegedly trafficked to Russia and now held as prisoners of war in Ukraine.

Broader pattern of Russian foreign recruitment

BBC also noted that citizens of Somalia, Sierra Leone, Togo, Cuba, and Sri Lanka are currently held in Ukrainian prisoner-of-war camps.

Petro Yatsenko, Ukraine’s spokesperson on the treatment of prisoners of war, told BBC that most African states show little interest in taking their citizens back.