Nearly 30 Ugandan Citizens Killed or Presumed Dead Fighting in Ukraine

By Reuters Oct. 29, 2026 African men fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. Social media Twenty-seven Ugandans who were enlisted to fight for the Russian military in Ukraine have been killed or are presumed dead, a letter from Uganda's Embassy in Moscow to its foreign ministry showed. The letter, seen by Reuters on Thursday, listed the names of 11 Ugandans confirmed dead and another 16 whose bodies could not be located. Uganda's embassy said it had received the information in a letter from the Russian Foreign Ministry. An official at Uganda's foreign ministry confirmed its authenticity. Russia's Embassy in Kampala did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Over the past several months, a growing number of reports have revealed that African men are being lured to Russia with promises of employment, only to end up on the front lines in Ukraine. Those reports have sparked outrage from officials in countries like Kenya, Ghana and South Africa. Ukraine said last year that more than 1,400 people from three dozen African countries were fighting alongside Russian forces on its territory, with some recruited through deceptive methods. Russian authorities have denied illegally recruiting African citizens to fight in Ukraine. Read more about: Africa , Russian military , Ukraine war Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russia Sends Instructors, Air Defense System to Niger Niger's military government agreed in January to step up military cooperation with Russia after expelling French forces. 2 Min read In First, Russia Jails 2 Soldiers for ‘Failure to Prevent’ Ukrainian Strike – Kommersant A Russian military court found the officers guilty of "violating the rules of combat duty to repel an unexpected attack on Russia." 1 Min read Putin Visits Military HQ Overseeing Ukraine War Operations It was the Russian leader's second visit to the military command center in the past month. 1 Min read African Mediator to Focus on Grain, Fertilizer in Russia-Ukraine Talks – FT Algerian-born French commodities trader Jean-Yves Ollivier is seeking to broker an African peace initiative between Russia and Ukraine. 2 Min read