Archive · 19 Aug 2026
African Families Seek Relatives Recruited to Fight Russia’s War
Some people from southern Africa travelled to Russia hoping to find jobs or attend courses.
Their families say some were not told they could end up fighting in the war against Ukraine.
Several families have lost contact with relatives or learned that they were injured or killed.
One Zimbabwean family is trying to bring a son’s remains home for a proper burial.
Another Zimbabwean family is still waiting to hear from a young man who became a soldier.
Some South African returnees described fear, injuries and limited support after coming home.
Botswana’s government has warned that men may still be misled into joining the war.
A group tracking recruitment says more than 1,400 Africans were recruited, although the reported numbers differ among sources.
Families in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana say relatives were misled about work or training opportunities in Russia.
Zimbabwean relatives are seeking the return of Tanaka Muzirikazi’s remains and information about Dylan Goodho, who stopped contacting his family in May.
Zimbabwe reported 15 nationals killed on foreign battlefields and more than 60 still on front lines.
South Africa said at least two citizens died fighting in Russia and 15 returned home, while a Ukrainian tracking website reported 10 South African deaths.
The All Eyes on Wagner collective said more than 1,400 Africans were recruited between January 2023 and September 2025, with over 300 reportedly dead.
- Who
- Families and recruits from Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana; Russian recruiters are alleged to have recruited some of them.
- What
- African families are seeking missing relatives, the return of remains and accountability after relatives allegedly travelled to Russia for work or training and ended up fighting.
- When
- The cases include departures in April and July of different years, government statements in February and July, and recruitment reported from January 2023 through September 2025.
- Where
- The families are in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana, while the recruits travelled to Russia and fought in the war against Ukraine.
- Why
- Families say relatives were misled about job opportunities, vehicle-import work or personal-development courses.
- Zimbabwean casualties
- Zimbabwe reported that 15 nationals had died on foreign battlefields and more than 60 remained on front lines.
- South African government figures
- South Africa said at least two citizens had died fighting in Russia and 15 had returned home in February.
- Alternative South African figure
- A Ukrainian government website tracking Russian recruitment reported that 10 South Africans had died.
- Reported African recruits
- The All Eyes on Wagner collective said more than 1,400 Africans were recruited between January 2023 and September 2025.
- Reported deaths
- The collective said more than 300 of those recruits had died.
- Zimbabwe investigations
- Five suspected agents in Zimbabwe are facing human-trafficking charges.
- Botswana warning
- Botswana’s government warned in July about an alarming number of men allegedly being misled into joining the war.