Ukraines Defence Intelligence has confirmed the deaths of two further Kenyans who were recruited by Russia to fight in the continuing war, thus unlocking a new row over the security of foreign nationals while entrapped in the conflict through the use k of force.
The bodies of 39-year-old Ombwori Denis Bagaka and 31, year, old Wahome Simon Gititu were found near the city of Lyman in Ukraines Donetsk region, which has witnessed some of the fiercest battles between Russian and Ukrainian troops.
Their remains were discovered together with that of another Kenyan, Clinton Nyapara Mogesa, whose death was first reported by the Ukrainian authorities towards the end of January.
As per the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, the trio had been employed for private security firms in Qatar where, according to the reports, they had decent and stable incomes. Later on, they were convinced to go to Russia and sign military contracts, which bombarded them to the frontlines.
Records indicate that Bagaka and Mogesa came to a Russian recruitment centre in Yaroslavl on September 27, 2025, while Gititu completed the process a month later, on October 28. Ukrainian authorities thus urge that many foreign recruits are sent directly to the battle zone with little or no training, which is almost always the cause of fatal outcomes.
In the same vein, Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence has warned foreign citizens not to travel to Russia or take up jobs there as they attribute the increasing deaths among non, Russian soldiers to the Russian military.
In the country, one more family is trying to find out what happened to their son. The family of 38-year-old Erastus Mundia of Nabemo Village, Mautuma Ward, Lugari Constituency, state that he died after he was allegedly recruited and forced to join the Russian military.
Mundia’s parents, Josephine Omwoma and Moses Muyela, have said that he was a businessman at the Coast before he left for Russia in October 2025. They lost contact with him on November 17, and it was only after that the family was informed of his demise last week.
The family has now called on the Kenyan government to step in and take firm measures so that no other Kenyan is deceived into fighting in the Russia, Ukraine conflict through dubious recruitment tactics.
