Russia shifts war recruitment focus

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Russia is shifting its recruitment focus for its war in Ukraine to people from countries including Burundi and Zimbabwe, as it seeks to replace soldiers lost in the fighting, according to Ukrainian intelligence findings reported by Bloomberg. The move follows efforts by Kenya and South Africa to stop their citizens from joining the Russian army.
Almost 700 Burundians have reportedly signed contracts with the Russian military, along with 530 Zimbabweans. Overall, the Ukrainian research identified more than 5,400 Africans who had joined the army, with recruitment also rising in Cameroon, DR Congo, Sierra Leone, and Sudan. A new UN report found that Russian authorities trafficked men from 29 countries into their army through deception and coercion.
The news came on the eve of a Russia-Africa summit in Moscow, with President Vladimir Putin seeking to expand trade and investment across the continent. Putin’s government has repeatedly denied illegally recruiting Africans, but the allegations have caused friction with African governments, and experts say the war in Ukraine is straining Russia’s resources and limiting what it can deliver economically.

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