Two Cameroonians Reported Killed Fighting for Russia

Two Cameroonians recruited into the Russian army have been reported killed on the front line in Ukraine. On November 5, Cameroon News Agency (CNA) reported on X that Kamdem Tedjou Derick has reportedly been killed on the battlefield, according to friends. Sources told CNA that Derick travelled to Russia in 2023 in search of better opportunities, then joined the military, where he reportedly served for about a year. His family had lost contact with him over the past 12 months, CNA said.

LSI Africa also reported on X that a second Cameroonian, Mebenga Guipen Bernard, who joined the Russian army in 2026, was also killed on the Ukrainian front. LSI Africa's post says Derick's family had no news of him for a year and that he lost his life during fighting.

In the ranking of African countries by confirmed deaths in Russia's army Cameroon had the highest number.

A Safe Way Out

Cameroonians 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. Families who have lost contact with a relative in Russia can turn to the "I Want to Find" project. See our FAQ for recommendations for victims of Russian military recruitment and their families.