Russia Recruited 530 Zimbabweans for Military Service in First Nine Months of 2026, Ukrainian Intelligence Data Shows
Russia recruited 530 Zimbabweans into its military between January and September 2026, more than eight times the 65 recorded for the whole of 2025, according to figures in a Ukrainian intelligence presentation seen by Bloomberg.
The presentation indicates a sharp increase in Russia’s recruitment of Africans as it seeks to offset battlefield losses and a shortage of personnel available for mobilisation in its war against Ukraine.
Recruitment also rose significantly in Burundi (699 recruits in the first nine months of 2026, up from 30 in all of 2025), the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Sudan and Cameroon.
Ukrainian intelligence assesses that Russia is targeting countries with weak democratic institutions, limited press freedom and weak judicial systems. After authorities in Kenya and South Africa took steps to curb recruitment, efforts shifted toward nations including Zimbabwe, Burundi and Sierra Leone.
The presentation notes that some recruitment offers have been framed as civilian employment in areas such as catering or transport.
Families of recruits have reported promises of high salaries, signing-on bonuses and a path to Russian citizenship.
An online advertisement identified as having been used in Zimbabwe showed a person in military uniform promoting a “program for specialists from Zimbabwe” with limited places.
It invited applicants to take an eligibility test but did not state that successful candidates could be sent to fight in Ukraine.
Overall, the Ukrainian presentation states that 45,959 foreign nationals from 151 countries had signed contracts with the Russian military, of whom 5,451 were African citizens.
The figures are based on Ukrainian intelligence and have not been independently verified by Zimbabwean authorities.
Russia has not publicly acknowledged using foreign recruits in the conflict in Ukraine; Russian officials have previously said foreign nationals may voluntarily enlist while denying illegal recruitment of African citizens.
Zimbabwe has previously arrested two Russian nationals suspected of recruiting for the Russian military.