A Kenyan national who travelled to Russia in search of employment has recounted a harrowing ordeal after allegedly being deployed to fight in the war in Ukraine, before eventually being captured by Ukrainian forces.
The man, identified as Joseph Kabugi, 41, appeared in an undated video said to be linked to Ukraine’s 425th Separate Assault Regiment, where he detailed how what he believed to be a job opportunity turned into frontline combat in one of the world’s most intense conflicts.
Kabugi claimed he had been struggling financially in Kenya when he was informed about a recruitment opportunity abroad. According to his account, an agency facilitated the process, covering travel costs including airfare, making the offer particularly attractive.
However, he alleged that many recruits, including himself, were not given full disclosure about the nature of the work.
“We were told we would not be involved in combat,” he said. “We believed we would be working in areas related to our professions.”
Kabugi, who described himself as a computer science engineer, said he expected to take up a technical role involving communications systems or surveillance equipment. Instead, upon arrival in Russia, he was reportedly required to sign a contract before undergoing a brief period of military training.
“I was not really prepared. How do you prepare in three weeks to go and fight a war? I was afraid,” he recalled.
Following the training, Kabugi said he was deployed to the frontlines near Kupyansk, an area that has witnessed heavy fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces. He described crossing a river by boat en route to his mission, adding that he saw the bodies of fallen soldiers along the way.
The situation worsened when he was injured in a drone attack. Despite expecting evacuation after sustaining injuries, Kabugi claimed he remained in active combat zones, later enduring a second drone strike as the intensity of fighting escalated.
Communication challenges further complicated his situation, with Kabugi stating that language barriers made it difficult to understand instructions from commanders.
“Most of the time we were looking for food and water,” he said. “We didn’t shoot or do anything because it was time for me to go back.”
He eventually surrendered or was captured by Ukrainian forces, whom he claimed treated him humanely, providing food and warm clothing.
In a stark warning to others, Kabugi urged Kenyans and other foreign nationals to avoid being drawn into the conflict.
“My advice is don’t join the war between Ukraine and Russia. Be safe; stay in your country,” he said.
His current whereabouts and condition remain unclear.
The account emerged shortly after Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR), reported that several Kenyan nationals had been killed while allegedly fighting on the Russian side of the conflict, underscoring growing concerns about foreign recruits being drawn into the war under unclear circumstances.
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