NAIROBI / DONETSK — A Kenyan national has been confirmed killed while serving with Russian forces in Ukraine, prompting renewed concern over recruitment of foreign fighters and the risks faced by young Kenyans who travel abroad under the promise of work only to end up on the frontlines of the Russia–Ukraine war.
Ukrainian Defence Intelligence identified the body of 28‑year‑old Clinton Nyapara Mogesa, a Kenyan citizen born in 1997, at one of the positions once held by Russian forces in the eastern Donetsk region.
According to the intelligence report, Mogesa had lived and worked in Qatar before later signing a contract with the Russian military and being deployed to an assault unit following just a brief period of training.
Ukrainian forces said Mogesa was killed during an infantry advance, described in military terms as a so‑called “meat assault”, where poorly trained soldiers are sent into combat with minimal preparation and protection.
From Qatar to the trenches: another russian foreign mercenary eliminated in Ukraine🔗: gur.gov.ua/en/content/z-k…
After the deadly engagement, Russian forces reportedly did not evacuate his body, and his family has received no official explanation or compensation from Russian authorities regarding his death.
In a development that has alarmed officials, Mogesa was found carrying passports belonging to two other Kenyan citizens, which Ukrainian intelligence says could indicate that more Kenyans are being recruited under similar circumstances and potentially earmarked for future frontline assignments.
A Growing Human Cost
The latest death comes amid ongoing reports that hundreds of Kenyans may have been drawn into the war on the Russian side.
Kenyan government documents and statements from authorities suggest that more than 200 Kenyan nationals are believed to have joined Russian forces, often after being misled by recruiters offering what appeared to be legitimate job opportunities abroad.
In recent months, Kenya has taken action to rescue and repatriate citizens caught up in the conflict.
In late 2025, at least 18 Kenyans were brought home after being recruited in Russia and dispatched to war zones, with the government issuing emergency travel documents and offering psychosocial support to returnees and their families.
Law enforcement agencies in Kenya have also cracked down on fraudulent recruitment networks, shutting down hundreds of agencies that allegedly lured young men with promises of work, lodging and high pay, only for them to find themselves enlisted in the Russian military.
Warnings to Citizens
Ukrainian Defence Intelligence has used Mogesa’s death as a stark warning to foreign nationals considering travel to the Russian Federation or accepting employment offers from entities in and around Russia.
According to the intelligence agency, such arrangements carry a significant risk of forced deployment to assault units, often with little training and a low chance of survival.
“Traveling to Russia carries a real risk of being forcibly deployed to assault units without adequate training and with little to no chance of survival,” the statement read.
For Mogesa’s family and other Kenyans with loved ones abroad, the news is a tragic reminder of the human cost of conflict and of the dangers posed by misleading recruitment offers that can end in loss and heartbreak rather than opportunity.
