Tears and pain as families recount last moments of loved ones tricked into Russia-Ukraine war

Grief and anger hung heavy in the air as families of Kenyan men lured into the frontlines of Russia-Ukraine war under the promise of well-paying overseas jobs told their stories. 

During a tense press briefing, raw emotion spilt over. Some relatives broke down in tears, clutching photographs and documents of their kin as they recounted last phone conversations and unfulfilled promises.

Their anguish underscored the agonising nightmares they have endured since they lost touch with their kin, an experience that has left their future in limbo, compounded by a government response that is yonder. 

For the majority of the families, communication with their kin went silent soon after arrival in Russia, leaving behind unanswered questions and deepening despair.

"The last communication was a photo sent to me," said Charles Mutola, displaying the image that now holds the fond memories of his son, Oscar Mutola. who he now believes is deceased. 

This, he said, was according to the latest update from the Russian Embassy in Kenya.

In the image, the 38-year-old was in a Russian military combat, holding a gun. He said Oscar left the country on June 26, 2025. 

"He landed in Istanbul the following day and travelled to St Petersburg and sent a photo," he said. 

"At the end of July, he sent another photo that he had joined the forces," he added, stating that that would turn out to be the last communication from Oscar.  

He would later learn of the son's death from the family of his Kenyan colleague, who contacted him and has since connected them to "their commander who trained them." 

READ: Mudavadi details recruitment of Kenyans into foreign wars

"So that commander contacted the commanders at the war place or at the war zone, the war front. And the commanders at the war front revealed to us that indeed my son had died on August 14, 2023.

That revelation, he said, came in January this year, but the government is yet to respond to their request to repatriate the body.  "I was informed my son passed and is still lying at a morgue in Rostov-On-Don, southern part of Russia." 

"Before he left, I had a hint that he had secured a good job. But he did not want to disclose further information. I didn't know the agents who recruited him," said Mutola.

Oscar, according to his father, was an ex-soldier who he described as a "hero" having fought for the country against Al Shabaab in Kismayu and during the West Gate attack before he resigned from the service.  

"I knew he had secured a job in Russia, but I didn't know exactly a frontline job. I wouldn't have allowed him to, because he was not going to fight for my country. But he is my only son. The other one is a daughter," he painfully narrated. 

"The only thing that he assured me is that he has secured a job in Russia, which I was not very knowledgeable about. That's as far as the recruitment that I know did happen to him," he added. 

Mr Mutola was in the company of about 10 other victims, some of whom do not know the fate of their kin, duped by rogue agencies to fight for Russia. 

ALSO READ: War that wasn't his: How Kenyan narrowly escaped Russia-Ukraine war trap

Pauline Ndume could not comprehend the distress she has endured since she lost communication with her husband, whose fate she doesn’t know. She said they spoke last on November 8, last year, after he landed in Russia. 

For her, her husband kept her in the dark, and the only information she knew was that he had been offered a six-month contract. 

"He only showed me the air ticket and told me he had secured a job in Russia as a driver. Two days after landing, they were told to start training that would be completed in two to three weeks," she said, breaking down into tears.  

"I have never heard from him on November 11, 2025," she said. He was left to fend for our child, who was due to join college. He now remains stranded and dejected. We don't know whether he is dead or alive." 

Grace Muthoni, who broke down while narrating how she has been left a widow at a young age after learning of the death of her husband in Russia, has a similar ordeal. 

She said her husband was recruited as a driver but was later forced to join the battlefield on the border of Russia and Ukraine. 

"I asked him if it was compulsory to do driving training. He then responded that they are working within the barracks," she said, deeply shaken. She later learnt of his demise through the news. 

'We have visited the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, but we were told to wait," she said, adding that it was after they received information from Russia that his body had been found.

"I have been borrowing the funds to travel to the Ministry. I don't know how I'll pay back the money," said the mother of four. 

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The emerging cases are adding to the long list of many other Kenyans duped into the war, with rights defenders now demanding the government's intervention to address the plight of the families of the victims. 

Vocal Africa now want creation of a special desk at the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs to handle the matter, as well as the establishment of a hotline through which affected Kenyans can report their complaints for assistance. 

"The Kenyan Embassy in Russia, in conjunction with the Russian Embassy in Kenya, must be compelled to release verified statistics on the number of Kenyans who have travelled to Russia in the last six months to one year to establish the scale of the crisis," said Hussein Khalid, Chief Executive, Vocal Africa.  

"Families are grieving, anxious and desperate for answers. Some Kenyans have lost their lives, and others remain stranded in hostile conditions with no access to help. This situation exposes a serious failure of protection and oversight by the government," he added.