Money, women and citizenship: Putin woos fighters online

Martin Macharia (left) and Peter Kimemia (right) in Russia. [Courtesy]

A scroll through TikTok now reveals that Russia has ramped up its campaign for military recruitment on social media.

An advert by ‘Russia Visa Hub’ promoting military recruitment appears on the platform and, upon clicking it, this reporter now gets almost instantaneously similar content.

TikTok’s algorithm tends to promote material that users have either watched in full or clicked on repeatedly. It appears recruiters are exploiting this feature to amplify their campaign.

The advert carries hashtags such as Africa, military and army, and shows African men happily pushing luggage through an airport. It promises that recruits will be assigned to non-assault roles, working away from the frontline.

Another video features a man claiming to be Kenyan, who alleges how easy it is to join Russia’s side in the war against Ukraine. He claims that all that is required is Sh5,500 and a passport, or a visit to the Russian embassy to confirm the amount payable.

“I am from Kenya and I paid Sh5,500 in my country at the time, and you can walk to your local Russian Embassy to confirm the exact amount you need,” the man alleges, under a burner Russia Military 2026 update.

Perhaps the most startling aspect of the adverts is the discussion around pay. One individual claims that foreign recruits earn Sh870,000 a month and that they are entitled to Sh65 million if they survive.

“If you die, your family will get Sh85 million,” he alleges.

Others suggest the monthly salary is closer to Sh320,000.

Responding to the claims, a user identified as Churles describes it as “silly” for anyone, especially Kenyans, to fight on Russia’s behalf. 

Another contributor, Stephen Njagi, argues that the country’s harsh economic conditions are the main driver for those willing to enlist.

“Better die earning like a man than live penniless like a sissy,” he writes.

The number of people expressing interest in joining is mind-boggling. Russia Visa Hub routinely dangles visa sponsorship to anyone enquiring about the process.

In the same thread, a user calling himself Sir Richard makes an outlandish claim, alleging that after the war, anyone who fights on Russia’s side will receive citizenship, “a beautiful young woman, a job and a home”.

“That country is huge,” he adds, in an attempt to bolster his claim.

Previously, this reporter had not encountered such adverts. It now appears that Russia is running targeted social media campaigns to woo foreign recruits.

The sheer volume of the adverts suggests an intensification of the online push, with people of different nationalities increasingly presented as ambassadors for the campaign.

Open Minds, a defence technology company, reports that 38 per cent of adverts placed by Russia’s social network VK on Telegram targeted Africans, with promotion increasing from last year.

“One in three contract announcements was aimed at foreigners — a sharp increase from 2024, when such posts accounted for only about seven per cent of all advertisements,” Open Minds indicates.

Experts and lawyers say the practice is deceptive and illegal. 

Law Society of Kenya deputy president Mwaura Kabata told The Standard that the adverts are run by private agencies recruiting on behalf of private military contractors.

“It is not just Kenya; it is happening in Taiwan, China and other countries. You are hired here for a different job but end up in the military. There are more stories of failure than success,” Kabata said.

“The Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should rein this in and shut down those agencies. It is a threat to Kenya’s sovereignty.”

He cited the case of Evans Kibet, a Kenyan athlete who ended up in Ukrainian custody after being lured into joining the Russian army. The 36-year-old, who aspired to be a long-distance runner, said he was tricked into joining the army.

“Russia has no citizens to fight its wars and that is why it is targeting foreigners, especially Africans. It is quite sad,” Kabata added.

Countries such as Sri Lanka and Nepal are said to have asked Russia to stop recruiting their citizens.

In Europe, Russia has been accused of recruiting petty criminals to carry out espionage activities. European governments also accuse Moscow of conducting disinformation campaigns and cyber-attacks.

French President Emmanuel Macron has accused Russia of using proxy groups to carry out threats against Europe and France.

In the UK, six young men were arrested after donations meant for Ukraine were set ablaze at a warehouse in Leyton. According to UK counter-terrorism police, the damage amounted to approximately Sh174 million after two units of the warehouse were torched in 2024. 

Authorities say Dylan Earl, 21, was recruited online by the Wagner Group, a private military organisation acting on behalf of the Russian government. Earl then recruited Jake Reeves, 23, who brought in Nii Kojo, 23. Kojo subsequently recruited Ugnius Asmena, 23, and Jakeem Rose, 20. Kojo, Asmena and Rose travelled to the warehouse on March 20, 2024, where they set it ablaze and filmed the incident. Dmitrijus Paulauskas allegedly helped Earl supply the three men with drugs. Paul English, 61, was arrested but later cleared of any wrongdoing.