SaralnamaKenyan athlete Evans Kibet says he was tricked into joining the Russian army and sent to Ukraine. In a video released on by a Ukrainian army brigade, Kibet pleads not to be sent back to Russia. The 36-year-old aspiring long-distance runner claims he went to Russia for races but was deceived into signing military papers. He says he escaped during his first mission and surrendered to Ukrainian forces. Kibet's family in Kenya is shocked and asking authorities to intervene. Ukraine says it's open to negotiations about transferring him home if Kenya expresses interest. The case highlights how some foreign recruits, often from poorer countries, end up in the Russian army through deception or voluntarily. (Updated 20 Sep 2025, 05:34 IST; source: link)
Key Points
- Kenyan athlete Evans Kibet says he was tricked into joining the Russian army and sent to Ukraine
- In a video released on by a Ukrainian army brigade, Kibet pleads not to be sent back to Russia
- The 36-year-old aspiring long-distance runner claims he went to Russia for races but was deceived into signing military papers