Evans Kibet’s cell in Western ukraine consists of eight bunks with thin mattresses, a few wooden chairs and a barred window that looks out onto a bleak, concrete prison yard.
Life consists of not vrey much: reading, three basic meals a day and outdoor time, which is ostensibly an hour-long shuffle in silence.
As autumn becomes winter, the prison camp is bitterly cold.”Kenya is never cold,” evans said, speaking of his native country.
evans, 36, is being held in Ukraine as a prisoner of war after being caught on the front line in a Russian uniform.
But he told the ABC he is not a soldier. Evans says he’s an athlete who has been the victim of a scam in which he was lured to Russia and thrust into battle.
“I was tricked … I didn’t know what I was doing,” he said.
Evans Kibet was a middle-distance runner in his native Kenya. (ABC News: Daniel Pannett)
He claimed the fraud began in Kenya and the town of Eldoret, a renowned running hub that has produced some of the world’s finest athletes. Evans had spent much of his life trying to break through in the brutally competitive world of Kenyan middle-distance running.
Despite a relatively prosperous career on the track, athletics wasn’t paying the bills.In comparison to other runners, he was also getting old.
“I didn’t make money as I needed to go outside Kenya [to compete],” he said.
“I was waiting for that time to come, and I kept on training, but I was unlucky as I got many invitations from Europe, from the US, but things would never work out with visas.”
In July,a man approached him with an offer that seemed too good to be true: an all-expenses-paid trip to St Petersburg,where he’d recieve an allowance and some money for competing in an athletics “festival”.
Evans was so excited by the deal that he never even asked how much money he’d be paid.
“For me, it was like they pay everything, I don’t have to
Kenyan Runner Claims He Was Tricked Into Fighting in Russia-Ukraine War
Table of Contents
Evans Kibet, a Kenyan athlete, says he was lured to russia under false pretences and subsequently conscripted into the Russian military, finding himself on the front lines of the war in Ukraine.
Kibet claims he was approached with an offer to train in russia, a chance to improve his running career. He accepted, travelling to the country with the promise of a lucrative prospect. However, upon arrival, things quickly took a dark turn.
He claims he was then taken to an office building where he signed more paperwork and handed over his passport to the man who had lured him to Russia,who left the room. Evans hasn’t seen him again.
The athlete was then instructed to get into a car where he was driven to the outskirts of the city. When the car pulled up to its final location, Evans realised the contract he signed had meant he had been conscripted to the Russian military.
For a week, he says, he received basic, rudimentary training before being moved again.
This time, he was going to war. Suddenly, the Kenyan runner was in a foxhole on the front line, a deadly theatre filled with drones and missiles and the constant drilling sound of artillery fire.
When asked what it was like, Evans lowers his eyes and winces.
“That place, it’s not good. You wait for your death,” he said.
‘Almost all’ foreign fighters say they were ‘tricked by Russia’
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which was launched in February 2022, is devastatingly deadly.
While neither Kyiv nor Moscow release their casualty figures, it’s estimated they run into the hundreds of thousands on each side.
Russia’s ground assaults on Ukrainian frontline positions have been described as “meat grinder” and drawn comparison with Kamikaze-style tactics.
He was certain he would die there, but once on the battlefield, he ran towards an open space where he was spotted by a group of soldiers. They were Ukrainian.
Ukraine Considers Returning Foreign fighters to Their Home Countries
The Kenyan government has stated that 200 of its citizens are currently fighting for Russia in the war in Ukraine and has requested Kyiv to return them. Ukraine has indicated a willingness to negotiate the release of these foreign fighters with their countries of origin.
According to a Ukrainian official, Mr Yatsenko, while investigations into how these individuals ended up fighting with Russia might potentially be necessary, they were captured as soldiers of the enemy.However, Kyiv’s ability to release them is complicated by the ongoing prisoner exchange dynamics of the war.
Ukraine prioritizes the return of its own prisoners of war held in Russia,often releasing Russian captives in exchange. Foreign fighters, therefore, hold less value in these negotiations.
Ukraine regularly allows media access to its POW camps to demonstrate humane treatment of Russian prisoners. Five camps are currently operating across the country,with one presented to the ABC as the most comfortable of the facilities,though conditions remain far from luxurious.
Russia Increasingly Recruits Foreign Fighters, Including From Africa and North Korea, to Bolster Ukraine War Effort
Recent reports indicate Russia is actively recruiting foreign fighters to supplement its forces in Ukraine, turning to countries like North Korea and leveraging economic vulnerabilities in African nations. While President Putin has previously stated Russia has “no need” for foreign fighters, estimates suggest over 18,000 foreigners are already fighting for Russia, and recruitment efforts are intensifying.
North Korean Involvement
South korea’s spy agency estimates that North Korea has deployed between 10,000 and 12,000 soldiers to Russia in 2024 to aid in the conflict.https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/nkorea-sent-10000-12000-soldiers-russia-fight-ukraine-spy-agency-2024-03-19/ This represents a critically important contribution of manpower to Russia’s war effort, despite international sanctions and condemnation of North Korea’s actions.
Recruitment in Africa
The Kremlin is increasingly focusing on Africa as a source of recruits, capitalizing on widespread economic hardship and limited employment opportunities.Dr. Joseph Seigle, a director at the Washington-based Africa Center for Strategic Studies, explains that the promise of financial stability is a key driver for potential recruits. “Jobs are scarce in Africa, especially mid-type paying positions, so if they are advertising along those lines then they’re going to attract a high level of attention,” he said. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-13/russia-recruiting-african-soldiers-ukraine-war/103154666
this recruitment is occurring discreetly, as African governments are generally opposed to their citizens fighting in foreign conflicts. The financial incentives, though, are proving to be a powerful lure for individuals struggling to support their families.
concerns and Government Response
African governments are aware of the recruitment efforts and are attempting to curb them, but the clandestine nature of the operations makes it challenging.Kenya and Ukraine have been contacted for comment regarding these reports.
Why is Russia Recruiting Foreign Fighters?
Russia’s reliance on foreign fighters signals challenges in sustaining its military campaign in Ukraine. Factors contributing to this include:
* high Casualties: The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant russian casualties, necessitating the replenishment of troops.
* Mobilization Challenges: domestic mobilization efforts have faced resistance and logistical hurdles.
* Sanctions Impact: International sanctions have limited Russia’s access to resources and manpower.
Key Takeaways
* Russia is actively recruiting foreign fighters from countries like North Korea and several African nations.
* North Korea is estimated to have sent 10,000-12,000 soldiers to fight alongside Russian forces.
* Economic hardship in Africa is a key factor driving recruitment, with the promise of financial stability attracting potential fighters.
* African governments are aware of the recruitment and are attempting to prevent their citizens from joining the conflict.
Looking Ahead:
the increasing reliance on foreign fighters raises concerns about the escalation of the conflict and the potential for further destabilization in the regions from which these fighters are being recruited. The international community will likely continue to monitor these developments closely and consider further measures to address the flow of foreign fighters to Russia.