Botswana says more citizens are being lured into Russia’s war in Ukraine

On 18 July 2026, Botswana's international relations ministry said an alarming number of Botswana nationals are being forced into combat in Russia's war against Ukraine after being misled by deceptive recruitment schemes.

The ministry said recent reports show the number of Batswana being drawn into such arrangements is rising quickly. It said that once they arrive, they are forced into active combat. The ministry also said it continues to receive calls from Batswana already on the frontline, who describe dangerous conditions.

The statement did not say how many Botswana nationals are in Russia. In December, Botswana's government said at least two Batswana youths may have been recruited.

Several African countries have recently reported that their citizens were deceived into fighting for the Russian army, with many killed on the battlefield. In mid-February, the All Eyes on Wagner collective published the names of more than 1,400 Africans it said Moscow had recruited between January 2023 and September 2025 to fight in Ukraine. The collective said more than 300 had died, and that the largest groups came from Egypt, Cameroon and Ghana.

Several countries in southern Africa have also reported the recruitment of their nationals.