Russia Recruits in Burundi and Zimbabwe as Ukraine Losses Mount

Russia is casting its recruiting net further across Africa as it scrambles to replace soldiers lost in Ukraine, according to Ukrainian intelligence findings reported by Bloomberg. Burundi and Zimbabwe have emerged as the newest hunting grounds, with nearly 700 Burundians and 530 Zimbabweans reportedly signing military contracts. The pivot comes after Kenya and South Africa moved to block their own citizens from enlisting in the Russian army.

The scale is bigger than those two countries. Ukrainian researchers counted more than 5,400 Africans who have joined Russia's forces, with recruitment also climbing in Cameroon, DR Congo, Sierra Leone and Sudan, according to the findings. The push has drawn sharp scrutiny: a new UN report concluded that Russian authorities trafficked men from 29 countries into their army using deception and coercion.

The timing is no accident. The news landed on the eve of a Russia-Africa summit in Moscow, where President Vladimir Putin is courting the continent for trade and investment deals. But the recruitment revelations shadow that charm offensive, fueling friction with African governments whose citizens are ending up on the front lines.

The Kremlin has repeatedly denied illegally recruiting Africans, per the report. Experts say the dynamic exposes a deeper squeeze: the war in Ukraine is draining Russia's resources, and Moscow has less economic goodies to hand out than its summit pitch suggests. For now, the recruiting map keeps spreading south and west, with no sign of the demand letting up.