- When a Kenyan athlete in Ukraine only identified as Evans left Kenya for a two-week holiday in Russia, he never imagined that he would never return home
- Ukrainian forces detained the Kenyan national who was found fighting on behalf of Russia
- He recalls brig tricked into a deal that would see him stay longer in Russia, little did he know that he was signing up for battle
When a Kenyan athlete in Ukraine only identified as Evans left Kenya for a two-week holiday in Russia, he never imagined that he would never return home.
He is now a captive in Ukraine. Ukrainian forces detained the Kenyan national who was found fighting on behalf of Russia. He recalls brig tricked into a deal that would see him stay longer in Russia, little did he know that he was signing up for battle.
He found himself among Russian military personnel deep in the Russia vs Ukraine combat zone. The events that followed next are simply heartbreaking for him and his family.
How Evans Ended Up in Ukraine after Holiday in Russia
According to a statement released by the Ukrainian military on Wednesday, September 17, Evans said that he was duped by the Russians into joining them.
In a video released by Ukraine’s 57th Motorised Brigade, the Kenyan athlete explained that he unknowingly signed up for military service after spending two weeks in Russia.
Evans, a professional athlete from Kenya, traveled to Russia as a tourist. However, he was offered an opportunity to remain in the country and secure employment a few days to the expiry of his tourist visa.
He explained that the offer was made by someone he described as his sports agent. With limited understanding of the Russian language, the Kenyan athlete said he signed documents presented to him.
“(The sports agent) asked if I wanted to stay here, and I said ‘yes.’ But the problem was that my visa was expiring. He said he could help and told me he had a job for me,” Euronews reports.
He didn’t realise they were enlistment papers for the Russian military. Evans explained that he had no prior military experience and believed he was accepting a civilian job.
He claims his passport and phone were taken immediately after signing, and he was swiftly transported to a military facility.
Did Kenyan Athlete Escape Russian Military Camp?
Evans revealed that once he understood he had been conscripted into the Russian military, he attempted to back out.
However, he was told to choose between fighting and death because there was no turning back.
His training, he said, lasted only a week and focused solely on handling an assault rifle. With no prior military experience and minimal instruction, he found himself in the war zone.
The Kenyan fled from the Russian troop as soon as they landed in a forest used as a battleground. He got rid of his military gear and including his Russian military uniform and spend 48 hours looking for Ukrainian forces for rescue.
Evans then surrendered, when he found them and pleaded for their help in returning home.
Evans noted that the majority of soldiers in his unit were Russian nationals, though a handful came from Belarus and Tajikistan.
He is among several Africans who have found themselves enlisted in the Russian military under misleading circumstances.
Reports from Ukrainian forces indicate that foreign fighters captured in combat include individuals from African nations such as Sierra Leone, Senegal and Togo.
In response to ongoing manpower shortages, Russian authorities have expanded their recruitment efforts to include young women, aged 18 to 22.
These young women are from South Africa, Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
