Russia is steadily expanding its influence in Africa, using educational and youth programs as tools of strategic outreach. One of the main priorities is fostering a new generation of African elites loyal to the Kremlin, Ukrainian intelligence reported.
According to Andriy Yusov, a representative of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), Russia offers state-funded university scholarships to citizens of African countries, focusing on fields critical to national development – such as agriculture, engineering, education, and medicine.
“African education and sports are increasingly being used by the aggressor state as instruments of hybrid influence aimed at shaping a new generation of political and administrative elites loyal to the Kremlin,” Yusov said.
Plans are underway to introduce Russian language courses and professional development programs for educators in leading African universities. In the long term, Moscow is considering aligning local educational programs with Russian standards.
Such measures, intelligence sources say, are intended to entrench pro-Russian narratives within the education systems of African countries.
Russia’s growing involvement in Africa’s educational and youth sectors is part of a broader, long-term strategy that combines elements of “soft power” with political, economic, and security instruments.
Similar tactics have also been observed in the Middle East. Kyiv Post reporting has repeatedly highlighted the presence of Ukraine’s military intelligence in regions where Russia maintains significant influence – including Sudan, Syria, and other countries where Moscow supports paramilitary groups or allied regimes.
In May 2023, HUR chief Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov promised to “destroy Russian war criminals anywhere in the world they may be.”
Ukrainian HUR special forces continue hunting for pro-Kremlin Wagner mercenaries in Sudan and other parts of the African continent:
Mali
Last July, Kyiv Post received a unique photo of Malian Tuareg rebels posing with the Ukrainian flag, showing their support for Ukraine.
Sudan
In November 2023, Kyiv Post got an exclusive video allegedly showing Ukrainian special forces performing “cleaning up” operations of Wagner fighters in Sudan.
In January 2024, Kyiv Post published an exclusive video allegedly showing Ukrainian drones destroying “Russian mercenaries” and their “local terrorist partners” in Sudan.
And in February 2024, Kyiv Post acquired exclusive footage allegedly showing Ukrainian special forces interrogating captured Wagner Group mercenaries in the Republic of Sudan. In the video, the prisoners confess that their mission was to get to Sudan and overthrow the government there.
Syria
In addition to Sudan, last June, Kyiv Post published exclusive footage of Ukrainian special forces attacking enemy checkpoints, strongholds, foot patrols, and columns of military equipment in the Golan Heights in Syria.
According to Kyiv Post’s HUR source, since the beginning of the year, insurgents, with the support of Ukrainian fighters, have struck numerous times against Russian military facilities under the control of the so-called Russian Armed Forces Group in the Syrian Arab Republic.
At the end of July 2024, Kyiv Post received several exclusive videos and photos showing the continuation of the special operation by HUR units to destroy Russian forces in Syria.
According to Kyiv Post sources in the special service, the Khimik group carried out another complex strike on Russian occupation forces in Syria in late July 2024. This time, the target of the attack was Russian military equipment at the Kuweires airfield, located east of Aleppo.
Later, exclusive footage from Kyiv Post sources appears to show HUR special forces attacking a Russian base in Syria, near Aleppo, on Sept. 15, where Moscow was producing and testing strike unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).