The deceased has been identified as 28-year-old Clinton Nyapara Mogesa, whose body was discovered at a Russian position in the Donetsk region following a deadly assault operation.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, Mogesa had previously lived and worked in Qatar before signing a contract with the Russian army. He was subsequently assigned to one of Russia's assault units and reportedly sent to the frontlines despite insufficient military training.
'The Kenyan national had been living and working in Qatar before later signing a contract with the armed forces of the Russian Federation and being assigned to one of the occupiers' assault units,' the statement read.
The Ukrainian report also noted that Russian forces did not evacuate Mogesa's body after his death, and his family has yet to receive any official communication from Russian authorities. At the time his body was discovered, Mogesa was carrying passports belonging to two other Kenyan citizens, believed to be fellow recruits.
Ukrainian intelligence used the incident to issue a warning to foreign nationals against travelling to the Russian Federation or accepting any form of employment on its territory, particularly illegal work.
"Travelling to Russia carries a real risk of being forcibly deployed to assault units without adequate training and with little to no chance of survival," the Ukrainian intelligence warned.
This incident follows the recent repatriation of 18 Kenyans who were fighting in Russia, confirmed by the Kenyan government through the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary. Authorities estimate that at least 200 Kenyans may have been recruited into the conflict, with recruitment networks believed to operate both in Kenya and Russia.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine began in February 2014, when Russia occupied Crimea following Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity. Fighting subsequently erupted in the eastern Donbas region between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists.
In February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, targeting major cities including Kyiv. The war is fueled by a complex mix of geopolitical, historical, and security concerns, including Russia's opposition to NATO expansion, Ukraine's alignment with the West, and historical claims over Ukrainian territory.
As of early 2026, combined military casualties in the conflict are estimated at nearly 2 million, with Russia reportedly losing around 1.2 million personnel and Ukraine sustaining roughly 500,000â€"600,000 casualties.
Civilian losses are severe, with the UN verifying nearly 16,000 deaths, and approximately 10.6 million Ukrainians displaced. Infrastructure across Ukraine has been heavily damaged, with tens of billions of dollars in losses to energy, housing, and transport networks.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
