A job announcement in construction, an offer for a security position, or even a casting call for a movie. War is usually absent from these ads. However, behind them is a network recruiting people for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The network uses Western digital platforms and services to reach individuals from Africa, Asia, and Belarus, according to an investigation by Politico.
The investigation is based on a report by Code for Africa, a nonprofit organization investigating online campaigns and disinformation in Africa. Researchers identified 89 websites, seven social media or Facebook accounts, and 39 messaging accounts or channels used in these operations. The network continues to expand: new pages and accounts appear daily, according to the report.
The ads target young men, especially those without jobs or with uncertain incomes. The promised salaries are usually much higher than what they could earn at home.
A "casting" for men dressed in uniforms
In an ad reviewed by Politico, a supposed "international casting" for a film is looking for African actors. An artificially generated image shows men of color dressed as soldiers. The ad was found on a Facebook page managed from Germany.
Another ad, sponsored by an account named "IRC Russian Bear," features a soldier of color with Russian flags on the uniform. It promises $15,000 upon signing the contract and a monthly salary of $3,000, under the message "A chance to change your life."
After clicking on the ads, users are directed to websites that resemble typical recruitment agency pages. Some display unauthorized logos of Western media institutions, including the BBC, to create the impression of a recommendation.
Candidates' data reaches Russia
The report shows that the operation uses advertising and monitoring tools from Meta and Google. One of the main recruitment websites was hosted on a server in Amsterdam, and other network pages were built with AI tools from companies in the United States and Sweden. When candidates filled out forms, their personal data was collected through a program from an Austrian company before being sent to Russia.
The network also uses services from Russia designed to keep the sites active even after complaints. In their view, people are drawn into war using digital tools developed in countries publicly opposing the Russian invasion.
Code for Africa argues that Western companies could eliminate the accounts, ads, and services used by the network. Meta has removed over 300 advertising campaigns associated with these recruiters so far, according to the organization's director, Justin Arenstein.
What Google and Meta say
Researchers searched on Google, from the European Union, for phrases like "contract-based military service" or "how can a foreigner legally enlist in the Russian army." Among the results were sites used by the recruitment network.
Google disputes some conclusions of the report, especially the claims regarding the extent of the use of its ads by the identified sites. However, the company stated that it investigates all reported elements and takes action when it finds violations of its rules.
Meta stated that it prohibits ads that mislead people about job opportunities or use deceptive methods. The company said it removed ads for review that violated the rules and restricted the authors' ability to publish others.
How many Africans have ended up fighting for Russia
There is no independently verified tally of foreign recruits. Ukrainian officials estimate that around 1,700–1,800 individuals from 36 African countries have been recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine. Moscow rejects accusations of organized recruitment and claims that Africans have volunteered.
The topic has also entered diplomatic discussions. In March, Kenya's Foreign Minister, Musalia Mudavadi, addressed his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, on this issue. South Africa's President, Cyril Ramaphosa, reportedly discussed this directly with Vladimir Putin, according to Politico.
Will Brown, a researcher at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), says that Russia has built an extensive propaganda system targeting Africa. He asserts that this system is now being used to attract young people to the front lines.
"They tell stories of being subjected to racist abuses, having their money stolen, and being forced to sign contracts they didn't understand. After a week of training, they were sent to a minefield," Brown told Politico, referring to the recruits' accounts.
The researcher also says that ECFR separately identified a network recruiting African women for jobs in Russian drone and armament factories. The ads appeared on online forums and even on billboards in African cities, including Nairobi. According to Brown, women may find it even harder to leave once in Russia, especially if they are far from their countries' embassies and other sources of assistance.
G.P.