*Sign-On Fee: Equivalent Of About N34m
*Salary: Equivalent Of About N3.5m
*’I Fled Battlefield On Seeing Blood Of My Colleagues’
*’We Saw Nigerians, Other African POWs’
Nigerians are among scores of young Africans fighting for Russia, and captured on the battlefield by the Ukrainian military in the ongoing conflict between both nations.
In a stark warning to youths against the mind-blowing offers of dazzling employment abroad made by some agents, two lucky Ghanaian prisoners of war (POWs) captured by Ukraine in the war, said they saw Nigerians among POWs in the Ukraine camp where they were being held since last year.
They did not say the number of Nigerians seen or identified any by name.
They further disclosed that other Africans captured were nationals of Egypt, Burundi, Algeria, Morocco and Uganda, among others.
According to a report in Ghana Graphic Online of 26 February, 2026, the two Ghanaians, identified as Kojo and Kofi (not their real names, to protect them) have pleaded for forgiveness from both Ghanaians and Ukrainians for their involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Both men are currently being held at an undisclosed location, the paper reported.
In an earlier briefing, Ukrainian officials alleged that Russia had recruited 1,785 Africans from 36 African countries.
During a visit to the POW camp by a Ghana government delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Ablakwa, at about 12:30 a.m. on Thursday, 26 February, 2026, the two POWs acknowledged that their decision to join the war effort was misguided and had dented their country’s reputation as a peaceful nation.
How They Were Recruited
Recounting the circumstances that led to his recruitment, Kojo said he was lured to join the Russian forces due to financial difficulties in paying his university fees in 2024.
With a promised signing bonus of 1.9 million Russian roubles (about N34m) and a monthly salary of 200,000 roubles (about N3.5m), he said he accepted an offer to serve as a fire rescue officer, only to be deployed later to the combat frontline by his Russian superiors against his will.
He disclosed that although the money was being held in BTB Bank in Russia, it had brought him little personal benefit, explaining that he had sent 500,000 roubles (about N8.7m) home to purchase items for an orphanage in Kumasi.
Kojo said that during intense fighting, all members of his unit were killed in bomb explosions, leaving him alone on the battlefield.
He claimed he expected to be killed by Ukrainian shelling but was instead captured.
Although he said he has been treated humanely at the camp, Kojo stated that he still carries fragments of metal from an explosion in parts of his body, causing him intermittent pain.
On his part, Kofi, a graphic designer, said he was lured into the Russian forces by a Russian police officer who had repeatedly cautioned him about overstaying a 14-week visa granted to him in Russia.
He explained that for the first eight months in the Russian Army, he was not involved in combat operations, but was later deployed to the frontline following a change in command.
Kofi said he fled the battlefield after witnessing several of his compatriots killed in action and so surrendered to Ukrainian soldiers, leading to his capture. He could not stand the sight of their blood spilled on the battlefield.
He further revealed that at the time of his earlier 14-week training in Russia, more than 10 Ghanaians had been recruited by an agent who promised them decent jobs, only for them to realise after signing contracts that they had enlisted in the Russian Army.
He said he could not confirm where those Ghanaians had been deployed or whether they were still alive.
Kojo added that recruitment into the Russian Army had become a lucrative enterprise for agents, who allegedly take a 30 per cent share of each African recruit’s salary.
Duo Seek Forgiveness
They appealed directly to Ghana President John Dramani Mahama and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for clemency.
“We are very sorry for what we did. We ask President John Dramani Mahama and the people of Ukraine and their government to forgive us and spare us.
“We know people all over the world know Ghana as a peaceful country with peace-loving people, but we have stained that status. We are not proud of what we did and we ask Ghanaians and Ukrainians for forgiveness.
“We know we have hurt a lot of people; but we ask for forgiveness. We’re also very sorry to our families; we know they’re very much worried about us. Let our families know that we’re alive and continue to remember us in your prayers,” Kojo, a father of one, said remorsefully.
Kofi said they were determined to turn a new leaf if released, adding that they hoped to serve as advocates warning African youths about the dangers of the war and what he described as the theatrics of agents who recruit unsuspecting young Africans.
Addressing the captives, the Foreign Affairs Minister conveyed the government’s forgiveness and reaffirmed efforts to secure their freedom.
*PHOTO CAPTION: The two Ghanaian prisoners of war (back to camera) shaking hands with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ablakwa.
