Russia disputes illegal recruitment reports of Kenyans to fight in Ukraine
By Cynthia Lodite, February 19, 2026The Russian Embassy in Kenya has disputed reports that Kenyans were illegally recruited to Russia to serve in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation during the Ukraine Russian war.
In a statement on Thursday, February 19, 2026, the Russian Embassy refuted the allegations, saying that the Embassy never issued visas to Kenyan citizens who sought to travel to Russia to serve in the Military.
“The Embassy of the Russian Federation has noted with great concern that a dangerous and misleading propaganda campaign has been unfolding in the Kenyan media and public space around cases of Kenyan citizens who travelled to the Russian Federation, joined the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and saw combat in the conflict in Ukraine,” the Embassy stated.
“Even as the Russian and Kenyan governments have been in close contact on the related issues, the campaign has recently culminated in direct accusations against the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Nairobi and its staff of involvement in rogue schemes of recruitment of Kenyans to become combatants in the conflict in Ukraine,” the Embassy added.
At the same time, the Embassy stated that at no point in time throughout the ongoing crisis in Ukraine did the Embassy ever issue visas to Kenyan citizens who sought to travel to Russia with the stated purpose of participating in the Special Military Operation (SMO) in Ukraine.
In addition, the Embassy noted that it has never encouraged any Kenyan citizen to do so, let alone collude with any entities or individuals to coerce or lure Kenyans into participating in the SMO under false pretences.
Further adding that the legislation of the Russian Federation does not preclude citizens of foreign countries from voluntarily enlisting in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation if they stay in Russia on a legal basis and choose to take part in the battle against the NATO-backed Ukrainian Nazism, shoulder to shoulder with Russian servicemen.
The Embassy has said it remains open for a constructive and depoliticised dialogue with the Government authorities of the Republic of Kenya aimed both at resolving legitimate concerns of the Kenyan side, as well as at the development and formalisation of mutually beneficial cooperation.