Botswana's Foreign Ministry: 27 Citizens Recruited to Russia's Army, 15 Still Missing

Botswana Warns Citizens Who Knowingly Join Russia's Army That They Risk Prosecution at Home

Batswana who knowingly enlist in the Russian military could face prosecution when they return home, the Botswana government has warned, The Gazette newspaper reported. Minister of International Relations Phenyo Butale told Ntlo ya Dikgosi, the House of Chiefs, on Monday that some citizens had been lured by promises of lucrative jobs, while others were believed to have travelled knowing they would enter military service. The government is trying to locate 15 citizens linked to recruitment for the war. The full video of the Ntlo ya Dikgosi, the House of Chiefs session is available on YouTube.

Deceived, or Travelling Knowingly

In his reply to the House, Butale said the government is aware of reports and confirmed cases of Batswana recruited to take part on the Russian side of the war. Information available to the government indicates that some individuals were allegedly deceived by promises of lucrative employment abroad, while others appear to have travelled knowing they would be involved in military activities. He said several were deceived by false promises of lucrative jobs in Russia and in neighbouring countries such as Poland, and that others travelled to Russia knowingly and are said to have entered into contracts.

27 Men, 15 Still Missing

Butale said that between June 2025 and now, 27 Batswana men were reported missing and are believed to have travelled to Russia to fight. Eight were intercepted before reaching their destination and returned to Botswana, four were repatriated from Russia, and the remaining 15 are still missing and believed to be in Russia. The Gazette adds that Batswana had previously been intercepted at OR Tambo International Airport in South Africa and Bole International Airport in Ethiopia as they tried to travel to Russia.

No Deaths Confirmed, Three Injured, One Captured

The minister told the House that the ministry is not aware of any Batswana who have died in the war, and that the government has received no official reports or verified information indicating that any citizen has died because of taking part. He said, however, that the government has received reports of about three Batswana injured in combat and one who has been captured and is a prisoner of war in Ukraine.

What the Government Says It Has Done

Butale listed the measures taken since the government became aware of the cases. He said he has met his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts several times on the margins of international meetings, followed by formal communications, and has raised the government's concerns with the ambassadors of both countries. The government is engaging Russian and Ukrainian authorities through diplomatic channels to verify the circumstances, whereabouts and welfare of those affected, and the ministry is providing consular assistance and keeping in touch with affected families. He added that Botswana is working with regional and international partners to gather information on recruitment networks and possible human trafficking, monitoring reports of deceptive overseas recruitment and facilitating investigations by the relevant Botswana authorities, continuing public awareness efforts, and exploring bilateral and multilateral cooperation to prevent the recruitment and trafficking of citizens into foreign armed conflicts.

Butale said Botswana's position on the war is grounded in the UN Charter, international law, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, and the peaceful settlement of disputes, and that Botswana calls on all parties to pursue a peaceful, lasting resolution.

Khama's Questions and a Prosecution Warning

Kgosi Ian Khama of GaMangwato, according to The Gazette, asked the follow-up questions. He said that for any country to try to lure Botswana's citizens to fight its wars "would be an act of hostility". He asked whether the government had issued a strong diplomatic protest rather than only meeting Russian officials on the sidelines of international conferences, what was being done to bring the captured Motswana home, whether the injured were still in Russia, Ukraine or Botswana, and whether citizens had been told that joining a foreign army without authority is illegal and can lead to charges at home.

In his reply, The Gazette reported, Butale said "others travelled into Russia knowingly and they are said to have entered into some contracts with the Russian Federation". He warned that voluntary involvement in a foreign armed conflict could breach Botswana's Foreign Enlistment Act, which restricts participation in foreign military conflicts without lawful authority, and that the risk of prosecution applies to those found to have deliberately enlisted.

Travelling by Bus Through Zambia

According to The Gazette, authorities now fear that some prospective recruits are avoiding monitored flights. Butale said some were believed to be travelling by bus into Zambia and arranging onward connections to Russia, which makes interception harder.

No Budget to Bring Them Home, No Formal Protest

The Gazette reports that Butale also said fiscal pressures were limiting repatriation efforts because his ministry had no dedicated budget to bring affected citizens home. Despite the government's opposition to Batswana fighting in foreign wars, he said there were no immediate plans to lodge a formal diplomatic protest with Moscow. "We believe in dialogue than protests," he said. He indicated that if existing engagements failed, the issue could be raised directly between President Duma Boko and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A Safe Way Out

Batswana and other foreign nationals lured into Russia's armed forces have an option to safely escape the battlefield with Ukraine's "I Want to Live" project. See our FAQ for recommendations for victims of Russian military recruitment and their families.