Putin's global mercenary drive: Senegalese fighter captured
Vladimir Putin is recruiting mercenaries globally to continue the invasion of Ukraine. Soldiers from the 49th Separate Assault Battalion have recently detained a soldier from Senegal. A recording has emerged on social media.
Members of the 49th Separate Assault Battalion reported the detention of a mercenary from Senegal in the Toretsk area of Donetsk Oblast. The military released a recording of the soldier, who, despite originating from a faraway country, fought on Russia's side.
In the recording, Ukrainians describe how the African cried during his detention. The mercenary admitted in the published conversation that he studied in Russia for two years. During this time, he encountered someone fighting at the front for money. It was likely this individual who lured him with roubles to join the Russian military. Russian credit cards were found on the African mercenary. The captured man confessed to Ukrainians that he intended to earn money and then move further into Europe, specifically to Germany.
The man who recruited the Senegalese informed him it wouldn't be difficult. "If you are in Ukraine, you can get to Europe," the mercenary quoted him. Ultimately, the African was apprehended and is now in Ukrainian custody.
War in Ukraine: Russia seeks mercenaries globally
The fact that Vladimir Putin is searching for mercenaries worldwide is not new. Recently, Ukrainians captured two Chinese individuals. It's well known that soldiers from North Korea have effectively joined the war on Russia's behalf.
Recruitment from Africa is also familiar. As early as May 2024, the portal defence24.pl analysed that Russia was conscripting Africans working, residing, or serving sentences in Russia. But this is not the end—the Kremlin had already started seeking volunteers in Central African countries, where Moscow has its mercenaries and influence. Africans are offered pay in exchange for fighting in Ukraine on the aggressor's side. "A special unit supervising recruitment in Africa was reportedly established in the Russian Ministry of Defence," reported defence24.pl.
Why such a strategy? Firstly, Russians employ a tactic at the front based on achieving numerical superiority over Ukrainian units. There is much discussion about so-called "meat assaults", which result in significant losses for Russian units. The number of mercenaries must be sufficiently large, and as is known, Africa is a continent with a notable population. Russia exploits the influence it has gained there, offering its weapons and instructors in exchange for mercenaries. Unlike Western and Central European countries, African nations are not distancing themselves from the Kremlin.
Secondly, Putin is reluctant to draft native Russians from large cities—this could create the impression that all is not going smoothly for the Kremlin dictator. The average resident of Moscow might be concerned if they were conscripted to go to Ukraine.
