LUSAKA - Two more Zambians have been reported among hundreds of African nationals killed while fighting for Russia in the war in Ukraine, according to information published by a Ukrainian government-backed platform that tracks the recruitment of foreign nationals into Russia's military.
The website, StopRussianRecruiters.org, lists the deceased as Joe Mwape, 27, who was reportedly killed in December 2025, and Chongo Choma, 30, whose reported death is recorded as having occurred in May 2026.
The platform, launched by Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in May 2026, compiles information from Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. On June 29, it published the names of 485 African nationals it says were confirmed killed while fighting in Ukraine.
By the time of publication, neither the Government of Zambia nor the Russian authorities had publicly confirmed or commented on the reported deaths.
According to Zambia Reports, investigations led to a Zambian student currently studying in Russia, who said he knew Mr. Mwape and claimed the deceased had previously been arrested on drug trafficking charges.
The source alleged that Mr. Mwape may have been recruited from prison under a programme offering inmates reduced sentences or freedom in exchange for military service. These claims have not been independently verified, and Russian authorities and the Zambian Embassy in Russia had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.
If confirmed, the case would mirror that of Lemekani Nathan Nyirenda, the Zambian student who died in 2022 after being recruited into the Russian military while serving a prison sentence.
Nyirenda had travelled to Russia on a Zambian Government scholarship to study nuclear engineering before being convicted on drug-related charges in 2020. He was later recruited into the Russian military through a prisoner recruitment programme acknowledged by Russian authorities and was killed on the battlefield in September 2022.
Investigations by international media and conflict researchers suggest that some Africans have been recruited through overseas job advertisements promising employment in sectors such as construction, agriculture, logistics, hospitality and private security.
According to researchers, some recruits reportedly only become aware of military obligations after arriving in Russia, while others sign contracts written in Russian without fully understanding their terms.
Human rights organisations and migration experts have continued to urge Africans seeking employment abroad to verify overseas job offers through official government channels before travelling or making payments.
The reported deaths of the two Zambians have renewed concerns over international recruitment networks and the risks faced by citizens seeking employment opportunities overseas.
Source: Zambia Reports | By: Joseph Mapalo Kamanga