A foreign national who fought for Russia was captured in the Kharkiv region
Soldiers of the 425th Separate Assault Regiment “SKELYA” captured a foreign soldier during combat operations in Kupiansk. According to the defenders themselves, he was fighting as part of Russian units and turned out to be a Kenyan citizen.
The capture took place during an assault. Details of the battle have not been disclosed, but the soldiers note that the situation was tense. The captive survived and is currently in the custody of the Ukrainian side.
The unit says this is not the first time foreigners have been found among Russian forces. According to them, many come to fight for money, but the reality on the front lines turns out to be quite different. “They think they’re going for easy money, but they end up in a war,” the soldiers say.
The soldiers also add that the presence of foreigners in Russian assault groups has become a systematic practice. “Russia actively uses citizens of other countries as infantry for assaults,” the unit notes. According to Ukrainian defenders, such mercenaries often end up in the most dangerous sections of the front. They are sent into battle first, and casualties among them are very high. That is why Ukrainian soldiers refer to this as using people as “cannon fodder.”
The captured Kenyan citizen may be included in the prisoner exchange pool. This means that in the future, he could be exchanged for Ukrainian soldiers currently held captive by Russia.
Ukrainian military officials emphasize that each such case is further proof that Russia is involving foreigners in the war and attempting to compensate for its own losses.
