Zimbabwe says 15 of its nationals have been killed after being recruited to fight for Russia in its ongoing war with Ukraine, with more than 60 others still trapped on the frontlines. Zimbabwe becomes the latest African nation to acknowledge its citizens being drawn into the conflict through recruitment networks linked to the Kremlin.

According to the Ukrainian government, as of last month, about 2,000 young Africans from 36 countries are currently fighting in the Russian army. A report by IMPACT, a Geneva‑based organisation investigating Russian recruitment channels, has revealed the existence of online recruitment networks coordinated by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). These networks reportedly lure young African men with promises of continuing their studies or securing a well‑paid job, only for them to discover they are being forced into combat.

For more on this development, we speak to Tendai Mbanje, Governance and Election Expert at the University of Pretoria.