22 Gambians Killed In Ukraine Fighting For Russia

At least 22 Gambians have been killed in Ukraine while fighting for the Russian military, in what is now one of the deadliest foreign recruitment tragedies to hit The Gambia. According to Ukrainian Military Data records reviewed by Journalists for Justice (JFJ), combined with additional cases through interviews and independent reporting, at least 3,034 African nationals from 40 countries including The Gambia were enlisted in Russia armed forces since October 2022. The report stated that the deaths are part of a continent-wide recruitment network that lured young African men to Russia with promises of jobs, education and high pay, only to send them to the frontline. The Gambia is among the hardest-hit countries with Ukrainian authorities consistently listing Gambians among the largest groups of African recruits killed, alongside Kenyans, Cameroonians and Ghanaians.