Botswana warns Russia is trafficking citizens into Ukraine war

Botswana warned its citizens to be cautious of "deceptive recruitment schemes" that promise employment opportunities abroad, only for recruits to discover they are being forced into combat upon arrival. The ministry noted that Botswana's ability to assist victims once they are in Russia is "extremely limited."

Citizens are advised to be wary of foreign job offers with unusually high salaries, lacking clear English-language contracts, or encouraging travel without proper documentation. The ministry did not specify how many Botswanan citizens it believes have been trafficked into Russia's war.

This warning follows a similar alert from Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) in April, which stated Russia was preparing to recruit at least 18,500 foreigners into its Armed Forces in 2026. HUR indicated that Moscow has set specific targets for enlistment officers, aiming for foreign fighters to constitute between 0.5% and 3.5% of personnel in different front-line areas.

Russia has reportedly intensified its efforts to expand influence across Africa through propaganda and recruitment drives. In February, Russian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that at least 1,780 citizens from various African countries are currently fighting for Russia.