What in the World - How a Kenyan athlete became a soldier for Russia

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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.

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Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Julia Ross-Roy and Maria Clara Montoya
Editor: Harriet Oliver

Published on Monday, 22nd September 2025.

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