The Ukrainian government has brought the issue of Russian mercenary recruitment in Africa to the centre of its diplomatic agenda, with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha raising the matter directly with African counterparts at the 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey.
Sybiha said the response from African officials was unambiguous. “I raised the issue of Russian recruitment of African mercenaries with each of my African counterparts. They are outraged. We are exploring ways to stop this practice, as there are different approaches. They are grateful to Ukraine for its efforts to halt Russia’s use of Africans in so-called ‘meat assaults’,” said Sybiha.
Ukrainian intelligence indicates that citizens of various African nations are among those who have been fighting on Russia’s side in Ukraine. Sybiha attributed the recruitment surge to battlefield attrition. He noted, “As Russia suffers heavy losses on the battlefield, it is trying to compensate by recruiting mercenaries. That is why this was one of the key topics in my discussions with colleagues from the African continent.”
The forum, held under the theme “Mapping Tomorrow, Mapping Uncertainties,” provided a platform for Sybiha to hold more than a dozen bilateral meetings with African counterparts. Discussions extended beyond the mercenary issue to cover agriculture, market access for Ukrainian products, information technology, healthcare, education and security cooperation. Sybiha also noted that some of the countries represented hold critical resources relevant to Ukraine’s industrial and economic recovery.
The minister concluded by framing Ukraine’s evolving international posture in broader terms, describing the country as having taken on a new role in the global security architecture, not merely as a recipient of support but as an active contributor to international security in its own right.
