Ukraine Recovers Bodies Of Two More Kenyans Fighting For Russia In Donetsk
News Updated: 06 February 2026 14:44 EAT
Aftermaths of the ongoing Russia Ukraine war four years after it started
Ukraine has announced that it has recovered the bodies of two Kenyan nationals who were fighting on the side of Russian forces in the Donetsk region, deepening concerns over the recruitment of foreign nationals into Moscow’s war effort .
Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence said the two men were identified as Ombwori Denis Bagaka, aged thirty nine, and Wahome Simon Gititu, aged thirty five, whose remains were found during recent operations in eastern Ukraine .
According to the intelligence agency, the bodies were recovered alongside that of Clifton Nyapara Mogesa, another Kenyan previously reported killed while fighting for Russia in the same region .
Ukrainian officials said preliminary investigations showed that the three Kenyans were recruited through deceptive means, after being promised legitimate employment opportunities outside Ukraine .
The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine stated that Bagaka and Gititu were lured into Russia’s war while working in Qatar, where they had been employed by private security companies before being drawn into military service .
Ukrainian authorities said the men were later transferred to Russia and deployed to the front lines in the Donbas region, an area that has witnessed some of the fiercest fighting since the war began .
Documents recovered at the scene, including passports and personal identification, were used to confirm the identities and Kenyan nationality of the deceased, according to Ukrainian intelligence officials .
The case adds to a growing list of African nationals, including Kenyans, who Ukrainian officials say have been recruited by Russian-linked networks, often under false pretences of well-paying jobs or security contracts .
Kenyan authorities have previously warned citizens against accepting suspicious overseas job offers, particularly those involving travel to Russia or conflict-adjacent regions, citing rising cases of exploitation and human trafficking.
The Kenyan government has not yet issued an official statement confirming the latest recoveries, though earlier cases prompted diplomatic engagement with Russia and appeals for greater protection of Kenyan nationals abroad.
Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence said investigations into foreign recruitment networks linked to the war are ongoing, as Kyiv continues to publicise cases it says expose Russia’s use of foreign fighters.
The deaths underscore the far-reaching human impact of the war in Ukraine, which continues to draw in foreign nationals far from the battlefield, often with fatal consequences .
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FELIX MAKONA
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