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Ukraine Intelligence: Russia Recruits Africans via 'Russian Houses' for War Front
🇬🇷 Greece /Conflict & Security

Ukraine Intelligence: Russia Recruits Africans via 'Russian Houses' for War Front

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Ukraine's military intelligence claims Russia is using its cultural centers in Africa to recruit individuals for the war in Ukraine.
  • These centers, presented as cultural hubs, allegedly promise education and jobs to young Africans who are then sent to the front lines or drone factories.
  • The report suggests Russia is expanding its influence network in Africa through these centers, which are reportedly operating in at least 22 countries.

Ukraine's military intelligence service (HUR) alleges that Russia is leveraging its "Russian Houses" across Africa as a recruitment network for the war in Ukraine. These centers, ostensibly cultural institutions, reportedly lure young Africans with promises of education and employment, only to send them to the front lines or to work in Russian drone production facilities.

The HUR claims Moscow is waging a "war for minds" in Africa, expanding its influence through these "Russian Houses" while also providing military aid to regimes on the continent. According to the HUR, such centers are operational or opening in at least 22 African nations as part of a strategy to bolster Russian influence.

Moscow is waging a 'war for minds' of Africans, expanding an influence network through the 'Russian Houses,' alongside providing weapons and military assistance to regimes on the continent.

— Ukrainian Military Intelligence (HUR)Describing Russia's alleged strategy of influence in Africa.

Russia plans to establish new centers in Nigeria, Senegal, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Togo, Mali, Mozambique, and Sao Tome and Principe. These efforts are reportedly being coordinated by Rossotrudnichestvo and the Center for Public Diplomacy (CPD), the latter founded in 2024 with a stated mission to disseminate "accurate" information about Russia in Africa. Rossotrudnichestvo has been under EU sanctions since July 2022 for spreading disinformation related to the invasion of Ukraine, yet it continues to operate over 85 international branches.

The HUR estimates Russia has allocated $1.85 billion for foreign propaganda activities, a 54% increase from the previous year. The "Russian Houses" reportedly screen Soviet and Russian films with patriotic themes, distribute pro-Russian literature, and teach the Russian language. However, the HUR asserts that behind this facade, many young recruits sign contracts with the Russian military and are sent directly to dangerous front lines in Ukraine. In January, Yevgeny Primakov Jr., head of Rossotrudnichestvo, acknowledged that a "well-known African private military company", widely identified as the Wagner Group, now rebranded as Africa Corps, was involved in establishing "Russian Houses" in Mali and the Central African Republic. The Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation labeled this admission as confirmation that the centers function as instruments of hybrid warfare.

The admission confirms that the centers operate as elements of hybrid operations.

— Ukrainian Center for Countering DisinformationCommenting on the involvement of the Africa Corps (formerly Wagner Group) in establishing 'Russian Houses'.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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