The Monocle Daily Why is Russia targeting Africans to fight its war in Ukraine?
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Nov 13, 2025 Rachel Cunliffe, Associate Political Editor at The New Statesman, and Ash Badwaj, journalist and author, delve into Russia's surprising recruiting of over 200 Kenyans to fight in Ukraine. They discuss unorthodox recruitment tactics and the troubling narratives from captured recruits, revealing low morale and tragic consequences. Meanwhile, in a separate segment, Sebastian Bazin, CEO of Accor Hotels, shares insights from the Tourize Summit, exploring the Middle East's hospitality and tourism growth amidst global shifts.
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Fix Paperwork Problems Simply First
- Start with simple fixes before exotic tech solutions for systemic paperwork failures.
- Rachel suggests trying a spreadsheet before deploying AI chatbots to fix prison release errors.
Recruits Misled Into Frontline Service
- Rachel recounts cases where recruits and even Russian teens thought they were signing for support roles but were sent to the front.
- These stories emphasize how confusion and deception propel front-line casualties.
Russia's Overseas Recruitment Problem
- Russia is recruiting foreign fighters because it faces severe manpower shortages and avoids mass domestic conscription.
- Recruitment mirrors trafficking tactics, using false job offers and confiscated passports to coerce recruits into frontline roles.
