Andrey Podyelyshev, Russia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, has refuted claims that the Russian government is involved in recruiting or conscripting Nigerians to participate in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
His comments came in response to a recent CNN investigation suggesting that Africans from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda were enticed to Russia under false pretences of civilian employment, including positions as drivers and security guards. The report indicated that these recruits were promised signing bonuses of up to $13,000, monthly salaries reaching $3,500, and even Russian citizenship upon completing their service.
However, the investigation alleged that upon their arrival in Russia, these individuals were coerced into military service, receiving little or no training before being deployed to active combat zones. Some recruits claimed they were compelled to sign military contracts written in Russian, often without legal counsel or translation, while others reported that their passports were confiscated, leaving them stranded in the country.
Moreover, the report highlighted allegations of racial abuse and inhumane treatment towards these recruits. Similar accusations have arisen in the past, raising alarms about the recruitment of foreign nationals to participate in the conflict.
During a press conference at the Russian Embassy in Abuja on Tuesday, Podyelyshev distanced the Kremlin from the alleged recruitment scheme, emphatically stating that it was not state-sponsored. “I do not have any confirmation from Russia regarding this,” he asserted. “There is no government-backed programme to recruit Nigerians to fight in Ukraine. If illegal organisations or individuals are involved in such activities, they are acting outside the law and without any connection to the Russian state.”
The ambassador also indicated that Russia is willing to investigate any reported cases if concrete evidence is provided.
Leave a Reply