NAIROBI: Kenya said on Wednesday over 200 of its citizens are fighting for Russia in Moscow’s war in Ukraine, and that recruiting agencies are still actively working to lure more Kenyans into the conflict.
Ukraine last week said that more than 1,400 citizens from three dozen African countries are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine with some recruited through deception.
Russia was enticing Africans to sign contracts that Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andriy Sybiha described as “equivalent to ... a death sentence,” and urged African governments to caution their citizens.
“Recruitment exercises in Russia have reportedly expanded to include African nationals, including Kenyans,” Kenya’s ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement.
“Over two hundred Kenyans may have joined the Russian military... recruitment networks are still active in both Kenya and Russia,” the statement said.
Moscow’s embassy in Nairobi did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
According to the ministry, Kenya’s embassy in Moscow has recorded injuries among some of the recruits, who were allegedly promised up to $18,000 to cover costs for visas, travel, and accommodation.
A security raid carried out near Nairobi in September rescued 21 Kenyans who, the ministry said, were being prepared for deployment to the war. One person was arrested and is facing prosecution in connection with the incident.
The ministry said that those rescued had been misled about the nature of their work, believing they were recruited for non-combat roles such as assembling drones, handling chemicals and painting.
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Kenya says over 200 of its nationals are fighting for Russia in Ukraine war
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Kenya says over 200 of its nationals are fighting for Russia in Ukraine war
- Ukraine last week said that more than 1,400 citizens from three dozen African countries are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine
- Russia was enticing Africans to sign contracts that Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andriy Sybiha, described as ‘equivalent to ... a death sentence’
Hot winds fan dozens of bushfires across eastern Australia
SYDNEY: Dozens of bushfires burned along Australia’s eastern seaboard on Saturday, destroying several houses as a blistering heatwave set in.
More than 50 bushfires were burning in New South Wales on Saturday afternoon, the state’s Rural Fire Service said, although the vast majority were considered “under control.”
A blaze north of Sydney had destroyed six houses, national broadcaster ABC said, while a small number of homes were lost in a bushfire on the state’s mid-north coast.
One bushfire had burned through more than 9,000 hectares (20,000 acres) in the Goulburn River National Park.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Dean Narramore said hot and dry winds were fanning temperatures across the state nearing 40C.
“This is a dangerous few hours,” he said.
“Unfortunately this heat has been associated with hot and gusty winds as well, and that’s what really driving these dangerous and extreme fire dangers.”
Bushfires are a common occurrence in Australia’s summer months, and it is not unheard for dozens of blazes to burn through sparsely populated areas on hot and windy days.
More than 50 bushfires were burning in New South Wales on Saturday afternoon, the state’s Rural Fire Service said, although the vast majority were considered “under control.”
A blaze north of Sydney had destroyed six houses, national broadcaster ABC said, while a small number of homes were lost in a bushfire on the state’s mid-north coast.
One bushfire had burned through more than 9,000 hectares (20,000 acres) in the Goulburn River National Park.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Dean Narramore said hot and dry winds were fanning temperatures across the state nearing 40C.
“This is a dangerous few hours,” he said.
“Unfortunately this heat has been associated with hot and gusty winds as well, and that’s what really driving these dangerous and extreme fire dangers.”
Bushfires are a common occurrence in Australia’s summer months, and it is not unheard for dozens of blazes to burn through sparsely populated areas on hot and windy days.
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