The Government of Botswana has raised alarm over an increasing number of its citizens being deceived into travelling to Russia, where they are reportedly being forced to fight in the war against Ukraine.
In a statement issued over the week-end, Botswana’s Ministry of International Relations said it had received distress calls from citizens already on the frontline, describing dangerous conditions. The ministry warned that the number of Batswana falling victim to the recruitment schemes was rising at an alarming rate.
The Government did not disclose the number of Botswana nationals currently in Russia, but noted that in December 2025, it had identified at least two young citizens who may have been recruited.
In mid-February, the All Eyes on Wagner collective published the names of more than 1,400 Africans it claimed were recruited by Moscow between January 2023 and September 2025 to fight in Ukraine, with more than 300 reportedly killed. The group said the largest numbers came from Egypt, Cameroon and Ghana, while Kenya and several Southern African countries have also reported similar cases involving their nationals.