Kenyan Man Hit by Bomb in Ukraine Reveals How Much He was Paid to Join Russia Army

A Kenyan man recruited into the Russian army is currently hospitalised after sustaining injuries in a drone attack during combat operations in Ukraine, highlighting the growing plight of Kenyans allegedly deceived into joining the war under false promises.

The man, identified as Jackton, narrated his ordeal while speaking to a local radio station, revealing that he was injured when a bomb-laden drone struck his unit while they were on patrol at the frontline.

According to him, the attack left several fighters wounded, forcing his evacuation to a military hospital where he is now receiving treatment.

Jackton said he was recruited in Kenya by an agent who promised him a well-paying security job in Russia.

He was allegedly told that he would be assigned to guard government installations and earn attractive wages. Trusting the offer, he agreed and travelled to Russia in August this year.

However, doubts emerged even before departure when his travel documents indicated that he was travelling to attend a two-week cultural event rather than for employment.

When he questioned the discrepancy, the agent allegedly dismissed his concerns, claiming the arrangement was meant to ease his travel.

Upon arrival in Russia, Jackton said he and other recruits were received by military personnel and transported in army trucks to a secluded location.

There, they were reportedly forced to sign contracts written in Russian, a language they did not understand.

“We were made to sign documents we couldn’t read. After that, we were taken straight to training,” he said.

Jackton revealed that they underwent only three weeks of intense military training before being deployed to the battlefield in Ukraine, contrary to the security roles they had been promised.

He added that those who resisted signing the contracts were threatened with imprisonment, leaving them with no option but to comply.

According to him, communication with the recruiting agent ceased immediately after their arrival, and all movements thereafter were controlled by military handlers.

Jackton’s case adds to a growing number of testimonies from Kenyans who claim they were lured into Russia with false job offers, only to find themselves trapped in an active war zone.

As his family anxiously awaits his recovery, concerns continue to mount over the safety of Kenyans recruited abroad under unclear and potentially exploitative arrangements, with calls growing for authorities to intervene and investigate the recruitment networks involved.