In the Siversky sector (Donetsk region), Ukrainian forces captured two Cameroonian nationals who had been fighting for Russia, according to the 20th Separate UAV Regiment. In a video released by the unit, the men introduced themselves as Metugena Una-na Jean Pafe and Anatole Frank. They claimed they had come to Russia to work – one “to make shampoo,” the other “to fix teeth.”
The Central African country is known for its ethnic and linguistic diversity, as well as its rich natural landscapes – from tropical forests and mountain ranges to the Atlantic coastline.
“The residents of this Central African country say they came to Russia to make shampoo and treat teeth. But in Moscow airport, they were received not as saviors from grease and dandruff, but as cheap substitutes for ‘Ivan combat soldiers,’” the statement reads.
Both men admitted they knew they were being recruited for war and still signed contracts and put on military uniforms. They were promised 1.1 million rubles ($13,000) – significantly less than Russian citizens are offered, but a tempting amount for people from third world Cameroon.
“The African nationals were captured by fighters of the K-2 Battalion in cooperation with the 118th Territorial Defense Brigade and two other battalions of the 54th Mechanized Brigade – the First Rifle and First Mechanized. They agreed to give an interview to the media team of the 20th K-2 Regiment,” Ukrainian troops reported.
In the video, one Ukrainian soldier explained that during an attempt to evacuate the wounded Anatole Frank, a Russian drone struck, injuring him and two other Ukrainian soldiers.
Another soldier stated that a Yemeni citizen was also captured in the same sector. According to the Cameroonians, there are other foreign nationals fighting for Russia, including people from Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, and China.
“What Russia is doing is a violation of all laws.”
“All of this was under coercion. I was given one choice – join the army. They took my documents, belongings, and changed my clothes.”
Metugena said he arrived in Moscow in March, while Frank came in August 2024. Frank mentioned that he had a return ticket.
Metugena described that as soon as he landed in Moscow, he attempted to “exit” the airport, but was detained. Authorities took his fingerprints and a DNA swab, then placed him in a waiting room. When asked about the purpose of his visit, he explained he came to work and presented a return ticket, hotel booking, and the intended duration of his stay.
Later, he was transferred to a detention cell in Moscow, then handed over to the military by airport police:
“They put me in a vehicle and drove me toward a base. I had no idea where I was going or what was happening. They gave me one choice – join the army. Around March 22, they took my documents, belongings, and changed my clothes,” said Metugena.
He reported that after the arrest, he underwent two weeks of military training in Moscow, then was sent to Rostov for another week. From there, he was moved to Luhansk – a Ukrainian city under Russian occupation – where he stayed for about a month. Metugena said he signed the contract because he was promised a significant amount of money.
Once in Ukraine, he found himself in a bunker under heavy shelling. Eventually, he wandered for six days and nights through unknown terrain under drone surveillance and fire. Finally, he saw a Ukrainian soldier and surrendered. He claims he never killed anyone and only wanted “to meet someone – Ukrainian or Russian, it didn’t matter – just to survive.”
Frank stated he came to Russia to give dental treatment. However, he and other men were summoned by the Migration Service, where their fingerprints and dental impressions were taken. He says he initially refused to sign a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense but was then blocked from returning home.
“We landed at 8 a.m., and they released us at 4 p.m. As we left, two soldiers were waiting. A vehicle was parked outside. They put us inside and drove us somewhere. We traveled for almost two days. We were brought to an 11 story building and locked inside for two more days. After a few days, they gave us military uniforms and said: ‘You’re joining the army.’ I said I wanted to go back, but they forced me to sign the contract,” Frank said.
He also said he didn’t want to join the Russian army, citing language barriers and not understanding the purpose of the war. Despite this, he eventually signed the contract. He was sent to a training center in Rostov for two weeks, then assigned to a brigade. At the brigade base, training continued for another 10 days.
During training, Frank experienced a panic attack and told his commander he couldn’t fight. As a result, he wasn’t sent to the front for about seven months. He also claimed he never killed anyone. When he was eventually taken to the front line, he was simply told to “walk forward,” but had no idea what to do. After three days of wandering, he surrendered to Ukrainian forces.
Both Cameroonians said they have no complaints about their treatment in Ukrainian captivity and want to return to Cameroon, not Russia.
“There’s one barrier I really didn’t like. It’s called racism. Sorry to bring this up, but it was a real problem. It was hard to live there [in Russia],” said one of the prisoners, describing life among Russian troops.
“I don’t want to go back to Russia. They traumatized me even during training. You don’t understand what’s happening – I’m still dealing with the consequences. To me, they are bad people.”
This is far from the first time Russia has recruited foreign nationals to fight in its war against Ukraine – many of whom later end up as prisoners of war in Ukraine.
In April, Kyiv Post spoke with Chinese nationals captured while fighting for Russia in Ukraine.
In February one of the North Korean soldiers captured by Kyiv in Russia’s Kursk region has expressed a desire to seek asylum in South Korea if he cannot return home – but he would love to see his widowed mother.
Also Kyiv Post visited a prison where Russian POWs captured during the Ukrainian forces’ offensive in Russia’s Kursk region are being held. A Kyiv Post journalist spoke with Russian conscripts and Chechens, learning details about the orders from the Russian military command, the prisoners’ speculations about the events in the Kursk region, and more.
Earlier, Kyiv Post also interviewed Somali prisoners of war who had been recruited under similar circumstances.
In 2023 exclusive interviews with two Russian prisoners of war conducted by Kyiv Post appear to confirm reports by Ukrainian intelligence and Western analysts that parts of the Russian army are poorly provisioned, badly motivated and generally treated as cannon fodder.