African Prisoners of War in Ukraine Appeal to the Russia-Africa Summit

African men captured while fighting for Russia have used a video released by Ukraine's "I Want to Live" project to ask their governments to raise their fate at the upcoming Russia-Africa summit in Moscow, scheduled for October 28-29. Odirile Martin Mompoloki, a prisoner from Botswana, spoke on behalf of the group: "We've been here in captivity for quite some time and it's like we are now forgotten." The project says Russia has not taken back a single African national through prisoner exchanges since the start of the full-scale invasion. The video is available on YouTube:

"We Don't Even Know or Understand Our Fate"

Mompoloki said the prisoners are worried about their families and relatives. "We don't even know or understand our fate," he said. Because the summit is approaching, he asked that their situation be discussed at the meeting, that the African governments attending raise their cases, and that an exchange be arranged.

59 Countries, 18 of Them African

According to the project, nationals of 59 countries have been taken prisoner by Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began, 18 of them African countries. It says only 30% of foreign prisoners of war want to go home, while 70% want to go to Russia. The video shows several prisoners from Kenya, Zimbabwe, Egypt and Cameroon saying they want to go back to Russia in an exchange.

The project says Ukraine holds the prisoners in line with international humanitarian law, providing proper detention conditions, food, and medical care. It adds that Ukrainian authorities are open to cooperation with international organisations and missions, and with the governments of African countries, on the fate of their citizens who have been taken prisoner.