Ukrainian authorities have confirmed the death of a 28-year-old Kenyan national, Clinton Nyapara Mogesa, who was killed while fighting for the Russian military in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence (DIU) disclosed that Mogesa died during combat operations in the Donetsk region, one of the most heavily contested areas since the outbreak of the war. According to the agency, his body was recovered by Ukrainian forces at a position previously occupied by Russian troops following a deadly assault.
The DIU said Mogesa was killed during what it described as a “meat assault” — a term used to refer to high-casualty frontal attacks in which soldiers, often poorly trained and inadequately equipped, are deployed with little regard for survival.
In a statement, Ukrainian authorities identified Mogesa as a Kenyan citizen who had been living and working in Qatar before travelling to Russia. Intelligence reports indicate that he later signed a contract with the Russian military under circumstances that remain unclear.
“Mogesa left a job in Qatar, received minimal military training, and was subsequently sent to the combat zone, where he was killed during an assault operation,” the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine stated.
The agency said he underwent only brief training before being deployed to the front lines and assigned to a Russian assault unit operating in Donetsk, a region that has recorded heavy casualties on both sides of the conflict.
Ukrainian forces reportedly recovered Mogesa’s body after the encounter, raising renewed concerns over Russia’s recruitment and deployment of foreign nationals in the ongoing war.
In a further revelation, Ukrainian intelligence officials said Mogesa was carrying passports belonging to two other Kenyan citizens at the time his body was recovered. The DIU believes the documents belong to fellow Kenyan recruits who may also be fighting for Russia, though their whereabouts and status remain unknown.
The incident has heightened fears that more Kenyans may have been recruited and sent to the front lines under similar circumstances. Ukrainian authorities warned that foreign nationals are being drawn into extremely dangerous combat roles within Russian assault units.
In the same statement, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine cautioned foreign citizens against travelling to Russia or accepting employment linked to the country amid the war.
“The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine warns foreign citizens against travelling to the Russian Federation or accepting any form of employment on its territory, particularly illegal work,” the statement read.
“Travelling to Russia carries a real risk of being forcibly deployed to assault units without adequate training and with little to no chance of survival.”
Mogesa’s death adds to growing reports that hundreds of Africans, including Kenyans, have been recruited to fight in the Ukraine war, often after being lured by promises of lucrative jobs, fast income, or residency opportunities.
Reports indicate that some African nationals travelled to Russia for non-military work but were later coerced or pressured into signing military contracts.
Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs has previously acknowledged receiving distress calls from Kenyan citizens stranded in Russia. The ministry said that through diplomatic efforts, 18 Kenyans had been rescued, issued emergency travel documents, and safely repatriated.
However, Kenyan officials have warned that the scale of the problem may be far larger. Reports suggest that more than 200 Kenyans could have been recruited into the conflict, with the Kenyan Embassy in Moscow confirming it has received multiple appeals for help from citizens who say they were misled or coerced into joining the war.
