KENYAN ATHLETE CAPTURED FIGHTING FOR RUSSIAN ARMY IN UKRAINE

Ukrainian forces say they have captured a Kenyan national who claims he was deceived into joining the Russian military.
The man, identified only as Evans, a Kenyan track and field athlete, was seized by Ukraine’s 57th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade near Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast.
Evans told Ukrainian media he travelled to Russia as a tourist after being approached by a sports agent. He alleged that upon arrival he was asked to sign documents in Russian, believing they were related to sports work. Instead, he says the papers were a military contract.
His passport and phone were reportedly confiscated and, after a week of basic training, he was deployed to the frontline.
Kenya’s Foreign Affairs ministry has not confirmed the incident, but the government has previously denied knowledge of any citizens fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war and reaffirmed its commitment to international conventions against mercenary recruitment.
Ukrainian authorities are holding Evans for questioning as investigations continue.