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Episode details

World Service,22 Sep 2025,12 mins

How a Kenyan athlete became a soldier for Russia

What in the World

Available for over a year

Imagine if you took a trip abroad and in an effort to extend your stay, you unknowingly sign a piece of paperwork that makes you a front line soldier. That’s what Evans Kibet, a 36 year old runner from Kenya claims happened to him in Russia. He’s now a prisoner of war in Ukraine. BBC journalist Akisa Wandera tells us what we know about his case currently. Citizens of Somalia, Togo, Cuba and Sierra Leone have also been documented as prisoners of war by Ukrainian forces. But how are they recruited in to fighting for the Russian army? BBC’s Vitaliy Shevchenko from Ukrainecast tells us more about the methods Russia is using to get people all over the world to fight for them in the Russia-Ukraine War. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Julia Ross-Roy and Maria Clara Montoya Editor: Harriet Oliver

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