Ukraine finds 2 more bodies of Kenyans fighting for Russia
By Aloys Michael, February 6, 2026The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine has confirmed the recovery of the bodies of two Kenyan nationals who were recruited by Russia to fight in Ukraine.
The men, Ombwori Denis Bagaka (born January 30, 1987) and Wahome Simon Gititu (born May 21, 1991), were found near the city of Lyman in the Donetsk region, close to the remains of another Kenyan fighter, Clinton Nyapara Mogesa, who was killed in the same area.
In an X on Friday, February 6, 2026, Ukrainian intelligence stated that all three Kenyans were recruited in Qatar, where they worked for security companies offering high and stable incomes.
“DIU reports that the bodies of two more Kenyan citizens who were recruited by the aggressor state of Russia to wage a criminal war against Ukraine have been found in the vicinity of the city of Lyman in the Donetsk region,” the X post read.
Bagaka and Mogesa arrived at a recruitment centre in Yaroslavl, Russia, on September 27, 2025, while Gititu joined them a month later, on October 28, 2025.
“One of the key roles in sending the Kenyans to their deaths was played by Kyrgyz citizen Salizhan Uulu Almamet, who acted as the mercenaries’ representative. In particular, Almamet signed contracts with the russian occupation army on behalf of Bagaka, Gititi, and Mogesa in Yaroslavl, and also gained control over their bank accounts,” Ukraine message read.
After a brief training period, the three were deployed to the Donbas region and tasked with storming the city of Lyman.
Ukraine reported that as they advanced through what has been described as a kill zone, the Ukrainian Defence Forces engaged and killed all three mercenaries.
The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine reported that Russian commanders failed to provide support or arrange evacuation for the mercenaries during the fighting.
Documents recovered too
The statement further said the two individuals were confirmed to be Kenyan nationals based on passports and identification documents recovered from their bodies.
Mogesa was found six days ago at a former Russian-held position in Ukraine’s Donetsk region following a lethal assault operation.
According to available information, he had previously lived and worked in Qatar before later signing a contract with the Russian military, after which he was deployed to one of its assault units.
After his death, Russian forces did not evacuate his body, and his family has yet to receive any official communication from Russian authorities regarding his death.
On Thursday, February 5, 2026, a Kenyan family held a memorial service without their son’s body after he was killed fighting in Russia’s war against Ukraine on Christmas Day. Charles Wangari’s relatives gathered around his portrait in Mukurweini, Nyeri County, on February 5, 2026, unable to lay him to rest because his remains could not be extracted from the battlefield.