On March 27, 2026, Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for Prisoners of War handed Journalists For Justice (JFJ) a list of 731 Kenyans recruited into the Russia-Ukraine war, naming their fates for the first time.
The list was transmitted by Tamara Kurushkina, a representative of the agency, which is Ukraine’s official governmental body responsible for tracking, returning, and treating prisoners of war (POWs). The unit has compiled records on more than 27,000 foreigners from 135 countries who have signed contracts with the Russian Armed Forces. Its stated mission includes countering Russian recruitment networks operating abroad.
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Kurushkina told JFJ the data came from “reliable and long-verified sources in the Russian army,” and urged journalists to help fill the gaps: “I believe journalists may be able to find their relatives and obtain more information.”
What the Ukrainian list revealed about Kenyans in Russia’s war:
- 22 Kenyans listed as dead, no dates or locations provided
- 39 Kenyans listed as missing in action, no details on when or where
- 41 Kenyans recorded as wounded, no information on current whereabouts or condition
- 670 Kenyans with no status entry at all
JFJ has independently verified cases that do not appear in the Ukrainian data, including POWs interviewed directly inside Ukrainian prisoner-of-war camps. As new names are submitted to JFJ and independently verified, they are being added to this tracker. The figures here will continue to be updated and will exceed the original 731.
A note on sourcing: In the information war between Russia and Ukraine, neither party should be taken at face value. JFJ is publishing this data in the public interest while continuing to independently verify individual cases.
