Kenyan recruit recounts losing hand and money in Russia’s war

A Kenyan man named Vincent travelled to Russia in July 2025, seeking a civilian job as a shopkeeper. He met a recruiter in Nairobi who promised him a position with a monthly salary between 240,000 and 320,000 Russian roubles, as well as free visa and airfare. Upon arriving in Russia, Vincent claims he was pressured into signing military documents without understanding them and was subsequently deployed to the frontline.

Despite initial assurances, Vincent was required to pay an additional Ksh30,000 for his visa and ticket, which he managed to raise with the help of his family selling a cow. He was taken to an isolated house in a forest where he was informed he was now a soldier and received minimal weapons training. Vincent and his fellow recruits were then sent to the battlefield, where he witnessed fellow soldiers being killed and was himself injured when a drone attack struck nearby.

His right hand was severely damaged, and he sustained a bullet wound in his thigh. Medical assistance was reportedly scarce on the battlefield, leaving him to seek help in a forest where a soldier provided initial treatment.

Vincent and several other Kenyans were killed during their deployment. Upon returning, he discovered that the money deposited into his account had been withdrawn, leaving him without any funds. He sought assistance from the Kenyan Embassy in Russia, who helped him obtain travel documents and secure a flight back to Kenya. However, Vincent remains without his earnings and is facing the challenge of rebuilding his life, including seeking further medical treatment for his injuries and dealing with the psychological trauma of his experience.