Video showing Russian mistreatment of African mercenary spreads among Kenyan users

A former deputy minister at Ukraine’s Interior Ministry, Anton Gerashchenko, posted a video on his X account that he described as showing a Russian soldier humiliating an African mercenary, United24 media reported.

Content warning: The video contains disturbing footage and offensive language.

In the video, a Russian serviceman humiliates an African fighter by strapping an anti-tank mine to him in what the narration frames as a cruel prank or punishment, labeling him with a racist expression as “coal”.

Gerashchenko published this video on January 9, 2026. The former deputy minister at Ukraine’s Interior Ministry did not provide details on where or when the video was recorded.

According to Gerashchenko, the fighter was later pushed toward an assault, described as a “storm,” or unspecified “special tasks,” and warned that Ukrainian units would defend themselves against any such combatants.

The next day, the video began circulating on social media among Kenyan citizens. The video published by Gerashchenko, along with other details, requires further thorough verification. 

In November 2025, BBC News reported, citing Kenyan authorities, that approximately 200 Kenyans are fighting for Russia in its war against Ukraine, and more could be recruited into the conflict.

Some of those who have been rescued said they were forced to assemble drones and handle chemicals without proper training or protective gear, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi said.

Kenya’s embassy in Moscow has recorded injuries among some of the recruits, who were allegedly promised up to $18,000 (£14,000) to cover costs for visas, travel, and accommodation, the minister said.

Mudavadi also said the Kenyan government had concerns about the increasing number of nationals who have been recruited into “forced criminality” such as drug trafficking and forced labour in foreign countries.

“These crimes present a serious threat to not only the national security of Kenya but to global security as well,” Mudavadi said.

In September, Kenyan authorities rescued more than 20 nationals who were preparing to join the Russia-Ukraine war near the capital, Nairobi.

One person suspected of coordinating the recruitment of Kenyans to Russia was arrested and is facing prosecution in connection with the scheme.

In September, Kenyan authorities rescued more than 20 nationals who were preparing to join the Russia-Ukraine war near the capital, Nairobi.

One person suspected of coordinating the recruitment of Kenyans to Russia was arrested and is facing prosecution in connection with the scheme.

Human Rights Watch has described the practice as systematic abuse of new recruits, while more recent assessments of Russian military culture have said persistent problems linked to hazing have continued to affect the force.

In addition, there are multiple reports in the international media about how Russians lure migrants from Africa and Asia with promises of civilian jobs and Russian citizenship. 

To entice foreigners to join the Russian military, occupation recruiters frequently publish posts in social media touting Russian victories in Ukraine while suppressing information about defeats. Despite the inherent risks, interest among foreign nationals in such offers remains relatively high.

On January 13, BBC World Service released a documentary titled ‘Into the Void: Putin’s Foreign Fighters’, which is driven by the personal stories of several foreign fighters. It opens with a secret call from one of them, ‘Habib’, a Syrian soldier on the frontline, who reveals the inner workings of the recruitment process and the grim reality faced by the foreign soldiers.

The investigation then delves into the story of Omar, a Syrian construction worker, who, like many others, was tricked. Promised a non-combat role, Omar finds himself thrust into the brutal frontlines.

The film expands its scope to Yemen, another country, becoming a fertile recruiting ground. Here, we meet Ali Al-Sabbahi, a Yemeni human rights lawyer, who is desperately trying to help the families of young men who have disappeared after traveling to Russia. The investigation follows the harrowing journey of two Yemeni men, Khalil and Hussein, who are eventually found in a Ukrainian prisoner-of-war facility. Their emotional interviews reveal the false promises that led them to war and the subsequent abandonment they face from both Russia and their home country.