Captured foreign fighters plead: ‘let us go back to Russia’

Foreign nationals captured while fighting for Russia in Ukraine say they want to return to Russia rather than their countries of origin, exposing a growing dispute over why thousands of overseas recruits joined the Kremlin’s war effort.

While Kyiv has repeatedly accused Moscow of luring foreign fighters through deception, several prisoners interviewed in Ukrainian custody insist they knowingly enlisted for financial reasons and now see Russia as their home.

Prisoners Reject Claims They Were Duped

One captive from the Democratic Republic of Congo, identified by the call sign "Avatar", told Politico he had no desire to return to Africa after serving with Russian forces.

“I have family in Russia,” he said. “Why would I want to go back to Congo?” He rejected claims that African recruits had been misled, saying the terms of military contracts were clearly explained before they signed up.

According to the reports, Russia offers foreign recruits a signing bonus of about 13,000 US dollars alongside a monthly salary of at least 2,000 dollars, providing a powerful incentive for those seeking work abroad.

Kyiv Warns of Exploitation

Ukrainian officials argue the recruitment campaign amounts to exploitation rather than opportunity. Ukraine's ambassador to South Africa, Olexander Scherba, accused the Kremlin of treating foreign volunteers as expendable manpower while masking the true cost of the conflict.

He said Russia was attempting to shift battlefield losses onto foreign recruits and urged African nations to resist recruitment efforts. Ukraine has expanded its diplomatic presence across Africa in an effort to counter Moscow's influence.

Some African leaders have also raised concerns. Kenyan politician Anthony Kimani Ichung’wah has alleged criminal networks are recruiting citizens under false pretences, although several prisoners dispute that account.

Caught Between Two Countries

Another detainee, an Egyptian fighter using the name "Cairo", said he wanted to return to Russia rather than Egypt after spending years there.

He claimed Ukrainian authorities were preventing captured Africans from returning to Russia and said many hoped to be included in future prisoner exchanges. A Ghanaian prisoner reportedly expressed similar hopes as the men remain in Ukrainian custody.

Their accounts highlight the increasingly international character of the war, where financial incentives, migration and geopolitics have combined to draw foreign nationals into Europe's largest conflict in decades.

Putin's foreign fighters refuse to go home: "Let us go back to Russia"