Family mourns graduate who died after being lured into war

Elvis Kipchirchir Sang who is allegedly killed in Donetsk, Ukraine war zone two months after being recruited by Russia to fight in war.[Courtesy] 

When Elvis Kipchirchir graduated from the Kenya Medical Training College in 2022, he hoped that the diploma would open doors to success.

Those hopes, however, faded as the job market grew increasingly competitive and employment opportunities remained elusive.

An unusual opportunity eventually arose, prompting him to travel abroad, a decision that tragically led to his death in the Russia–Ukraine war zone.

His family in Kaplelmet Village, Nandi Hills, is now left grieving, with his remains still stranded over 5,000 kilometers away on the battlefield.

It all began when a friend told him he could help secure a job abroad. At first, he hesitated, but he reluctantly decided to test his luck.

According to his younger brother Cosmas Kiprop, Kipchirchir left his home in early September and began processing his travel documents in Nairobi, though he shared little of his plans with the family.

“He did not even tell our mother that he intended to fly to Russia, fearing she might object, but he confided in me about his last days in Kenya. He left the country on September 18, 2025,” Cosmas recalled.

Three days later, he safely arrived in Russia and shared his excitement with close friends and relatives. Elvis was then waiting for further instructions from the agency that had facilitated his travel.

Military gear

Cosmas was stunned when Kipchichir sent him pictures on WhatsApp showing him in full military gear.

“I was shocked to see him in jungle attire, wearing headgear and armed with a gun. He told me he was going for military training and would switch off his phone for about two weeks. I was worried; there was little I could do except wish him good luck,” he recalled.

Kipchirchir switched on his phone barely a week later and shared his experiences with friends back in Kenya. He also revealed some confidential details, including his military designation and the contractual terms he had signed to serve in the Russian defense forces in Moscow.

A trauma and orthopedic diploma holder was now headed to the war frontline under Military Unit No 91701 as Private Sang Elvis Kipchirchir CA–181256, according to a contract excerpt dated October 3, 2025.

The unit was permanently deployed for combat operations in Donetsk, a disputed region in eastern Ukraine.

It is believed Kipchirchir, along with other African recruits, was deployed on October 27, after which all contact with him was lost. His cousin, Vincent Korir, said Kipchirchir had gone offline on all social media accounts, raising serious concerns for his safety.

“Fortunately, I managed to contact one of the Kenyan recruits in Russia, who confirmed that our brother had died. He told me Kipchirchir was killed in Donetsk while heading into Ukraine,”  Korir recalled.

No response

A Kenyan recruit who survived the attack, speaking on condition of anonymity for his safety, said Kipchirchir was among six soldiers killed by missiles dropped by drones on the battlefield. Three, including their commander, died, while the other three survived.

“We are deeply concerned about the remains of the deceased,” Korir explained.

“The survivor told us that the ongoing war has made it impossible to evacuate the bodies and even the Russian military has taken no action to recover them.”

Korir added that the family has not received any response from the Immigration office, despite confirming that Kipchirchir traveled to Russia nearly three months ago.

In Maragua, Murang’a county, a family is appealing to the government for support in rescuing their son, who remains stranded in Russia.

The family of Elias Mbira said their son, Willy Muniu Macharia, 22, a National Youth Service (NYS) graduate, flew to Russia in July after qualifying in the recruitment process.

The family grew concerned after losing contact with Muniu on November 15. Until then, they had been communicating daily through the mobile phone of his unit commander.

According to the family, their son left Kenya on July 26, accompanied by eight other Kenyans.

They arrived the following day, and Sh1.3 million was deposited into his bank account, but the funds were allegedly withdrawn without their knowledge.

In a video, Macharia was promised better payment, unaware that he was being recruited for military training