At least 15 Zimbabwean nationals have been killed in the Russia–Ukraine war after reportedly being duped into joining the Russian army through suspected human trafficking syndicates.
Speaking at a press conference in Harare on Wednesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Zhemu Soda said employment agencies linked to criminal networks are luring Zimbabweans with promises of lucrative salaries before facilitating their recruitment into foreign armies.
He said that the recruitment process often begins on social media platforms, where so-called “ghost” agencies advertise attractive remuneration packages to exploit people’s economic vulnerabilities.
Once recruits leave the country, they are allegedly stripped of their passports and personal belongings, leaving them unable to escape before being deployed to active war zones.
Soda said a total of 81 Zimbabweans were recruited into the Russian military, with 15 having died so far. He said:
“It is with profound sorrow that I confirm to the nation that at least 15 Zimbabwean nationals have lost their lives in foreign battlefields after being deceived into enlisting in foreign wars. Let me be unequivocal: this is human trafficking.
“Our citizens are being preyed upon by unscrupulous individuals and networks who operate with complete disregard for human life.
“These traffickers use sophisticated methods, often leveraging social media platforms as their primary hunting ground.
‘They lure unsuspecting Zimbabweans with false promises of lucrative employment opportunities, typically advertised as professional work, logistics support, or private contracting roles in foreign countries.
“The offer of employment may sound lucrative, but in many cases, the money is not given, and the recruiters are nowhere to be found when something goes wrong.”
As of February 2026, Ukrainian and international investigative groups, including INPACT and All Eyes on Wagner, had identified more than 1,780 African nationals from 36 countries fighting within Russian ranks.
The countries contributing the highest numbers include Egypt (approximately 361 fighters), Cameroon (335), Ghana (234) and Kenya (more than 200).
According to the reports, nationals from several other countries have also been involved, including Nigeria, South Africa, Gambia, Mali, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
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