An “alarmingly high” number of people from Botswana found themselves forced to fight alongside Russia against Ukraine after they were “lured” by deceptive recruitment tactics, according to the country’s government.

In recent months, several African countries have reported that some of their citizens were deceived into fighting in the ranks of the Russian army and that many were killed on the battlefield.

“Recent reports indicate that the number of Botswana citizens being fraudulently lured into such arrangements is rising at an alarming rate,” the Ministry of International Relations announced.

Once they arrive (in Russia), “they are forced to participate in active combat,” the same source explained. “The ministry continues to receive heart-wrenching calls from Botswana citizens who are already on the front lines, describing the dangerous conditions they face,” it added.

The statement does not specify exactly how many are in Russia or Ukraine. In December, the government reported that at least two young people may have been conscripted.

In mid-February, the collective “All Eyes on Wagner” (named after the eponymous former Russian paramilitary organization) reported that more than 1,400 Africans had been recruited by Moscow from January 2023 through September 2025 to fight in Ukraine, and more than 300 were killed. Most were from Egypt, Cameroon, and Ghana. Many countries in southern Africa have also reported that Russia is recruiting their citizens.

Source: cnn.gr