Zimbabweans trapped in Russia-Ukraine war cry for help

A Zimbabwean man claiming to be trapped on the Russia-Ukraine frontline has issued a desperate plea for assistance, alleging that African recruits were lured with fraudulent job promises before having their passports confiscated and being forced into combat.

In a WhatsApp conversation with Hanyani News Online, the injured fighter described how many Zimbabweans were recruited under the pretense of security and driving jobs in Russia, only to find themselves thrust into frontline combat.

"We were promised security jobs and driving work, but when we got here everything changed. They took our passports and our cellphones. Black people are dying every day," he said.

The man said recruits receive only three weeks of training before being deployed against advanced military technology, including drones and "war robots." Those who try to escape reportedly face beatings.

"They don't even bury them properly. They just mark them as missing persons," he added, referring to African fighters killed in combat.

He further claimed that many recruits die without ever seeing their salaries and that communication is heavily restricted, with soldiers hiding phones and only using them secretly under blankets to avoid detection.

Attempts have reportedly been made to alert Zimbabwean authorities. Families of some of the trapped fighters reportedly met with government officials, including the Minister of Security, at Parliament to seek assistance. However, the man said no action has yet been taken to facilitate their repatriation.

"We need help. Our Zimbabwean brothers are dying every day. We want to come back home," he said.

International research indicates that economically vulnerable Africans are increasingly targeted for recruitment into the Russian military amid the prolonged conflict with Ukraine. For the Zimbabweans currently caught in the fighting, the situation remains dire and urgent.