What changed

B100166/2026

P10_TA(2026)0081

European Parliament resolution on the humanHuman trafficking and grave human rights violations linked to the recruitment of non-Russian nationals, in particular Africans,from Africa, for Russia'sRussia’s war of aggression in Ukraine

(2026/2641(RSP))

PE782.987

European Parliament resolution of 12 March 2026 on human trafficking and grave human rights violations linked to the recruitment of non-Russian nationals, in particular from Africa, for Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine (2026/2641(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to RuleRules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas a growing number of non-Russian nationals, particularly African men from regions suffering severe unemployment and social instability, are being deceived into participating in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine through recruitment campaigns conducted primarily via social media platforms, under false pretences of employment, educational or financial opportunities, in practices likely to constitute human trafficking;

A. whereas Russia is using deceptive recruitment tactics and coercion to recruit thousands of foreign nationals from different African states, and is also recruiting individuals from Cuba and South and Central Asia, to sustain its brutal, unprovoked, unjustified, illegal war of aggression against Ukraine;

whereas according to a February report by investigative group INPACT, more than 1,400 African nationals have reportedly served in the Russian army between January 2023 and September 2025, with more than 300 killed; whereas in a February report, Kenya's National Intelligence Service confirmed over 1,000 nationals were duped into fighting for Russia in Ukraine, with a recruitment company director formally charged with human trafficking;

B. whereas investigative reports and several African states have revealed recruitment networks that systematically target individuals from low-income areas, mainly through social media platforms, with false promises of employment, education or citizenship; whereas recruits are enticed to travel to Russia, deprived of their identity documents and forcibly conscripted under coercion or threats; whereas the case of Francis Ndung’u Ndarua, a Kenyan national fraudulently recruited and sent to the front in Ukraine, illustrates the extreme cruelty of these practices;

whereas since 2022, hundreds of African women have reportedly been targeted by online campaigns and tricked into working in drone-assembling factories in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone, in the Russian Republic of Tatarstan, under highly dangerous conditions;

C. whereas the Russian authorities reportedly enable these recruitment schemes through state-linked companies, intermediaries, military structures and embassy officials;

whereas Russian embassy officials have been accused of colluding with recruitment networks by facilitating tourist visas for recruited individuals;

D. whereas testimonies indicate that African recruits are made to do the most dangerous frontline duties, treated as expendable and subjected to racial abuse and discrimination;

whereas in January 2026, Russia reportedly issued a “stop-list” for military recruiters, banning citizens of a number of countries from enlisting to fight in Ukraine;

E. whereas hundreds of African women have reportedly been deceived into working in drone-assembling factories in Russia under highly dangerous and exploitative conditions;

Strongly condemns the deceptive recruitment of non-Russian nationals, trafficked and coerced to fight for Russia in its war against Ukraine;

1. Strongly condemns the trafficking and coercive recruitment of foreign nationals into Russia’s military service and war-related labour exploitation; stresses that these practices are grave violations of e human rights and international humanitarian law and may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity;

2. Urges all states concerned to investigate and combat illegalforeign nationals’ recruitment and human trafficking networks,hold toaccountable holdall those conducting, facilitating or promoting recruitmentit, accountable,to andenhance tovigilance preventamong participationimmigration inofficers, Russia’sto warproactively againstwarn Ukraine,citizens includingof bythe prohibitingdangers nationalsof fromtravelling takingto partRussia infor foreignalleged wars,job andor byeducation proactivelyoffers warningand themto offacilitate the dangersimmediate repatriation of recruitmentfraudulently schemes;recruited foreign nationals;

3. Calls on social media platforms to meet their human rights responsibilities and take allcooperate necessarywith measuresrelevant toauthorities detect,in removeidentifying and reportremoving content used forby illegaldeceptive militaryRussia-linked recruitment and human trafficking purposes;networks; calls on states to hold these platforms accountable;

Calls on all states to ratify or accede and implement the United Nations’ International Convention Against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries;

4. Underscores that the growing use of deceptive recruitment tactics coincides with Russia’s expanding influence in African states, including through private military companies and information manipulation campaigns;

Underscores that the increasing use of deceptive recruitment tactics coincide with the spread of Russia’s influence in African states, including through private military companies and information manipulation campaigns;

5. Demands that Russia immediately cease such recruitment practices and guarantee the unconditional repatriation of fraudulently recruited individuals; holds the Russian authorities responsible for creating and enabling these schemes;

Demands that the Russian Federation guarantee the safe return of those deceitfully recruited, and immediately and unconditionally terminate all military activities in the entire internationally recognised territory of Ukraine;

6. Draws attention to the case of Francis Ndung’u Ndarua; calls for his repatriation; urges Russia to inform his relatives of his whereabouts and health condition;

7. Calls onfor the EU and its Member States to seize all opportunities toengage communicatewith tothe states concerned the dangers associated with these recruitment practices, and to support their efforts to tackle recruitmenthuman networkstrafficking and humanfacilitate trafficking,victims’ release and theirrepatriation; effortscalls for repatriationthe EU and protectionits uponMember return;States to impose targeted sanctions on the individuals and entities responsible;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the Member States, the African Union, the UN, and the authorities of Botswana, Cameroon,UN Egypt,General Ghana,Assembly Kenya,and Nigeria,the RussiaRussian and SouthUkrainian Africa.authorities.