“It Was a Death Trap”: Kiambu Man Escapes Russia–Ukraine War

A promise of a well-paying driving job in Russia dragged a Kiambu man into the brutal Ukraine war, where all 10 Kenyan colleagues he travelled with lost their lives within days.

Dancan Chege, from Kimende in Kiambu County, says friends introduced him to a local recruitment agent who claimed Russia needed Kenyan drivers. The agent promised Chege KSh 3 million upon arrival in Moscow. Because of the huge payout, Chege accepted the offer without hesitation.

However, the deal collapsed the moment he landed in Russia.

Instead of reporting to a transport company, Russian officials took Chege and 10 other Kenyans to a military camp. There, commanders forced them to sign contracts to join the Russian army.

“I knew I was going to be a driver,” Chege said. “But once we reached Moscow, soldiers took us straight to a camp and ordered us to fight.”

Brutal Training, No Escape

Soon after, Russian instructors subjected the recruits to harsh military training. Chege says the drills ran almost nonstop for a month.

“They trained us day and night,” he recalled. “We slept very little. They treated us like animals.”

Before this, Chege had never held a gun or imagined joining any army. Despite that, trainers taught the group to operate firearms, tanks, drones, missiles, and heavy artillery.

Meanwhile, the promised money never arrived.

Chege travelled to Russia in November 2025 and deployed to the frontline in December. Although officials blamed a banking issue for the delay, Chege says only a few recruits received payment.

“Most of those who got paid died shortly after,” he said.

Kenyans Killed Within Days

A week after crossing into Ukraine, disaster struck.

Enemy fire killed all 10 Kenyan recruits who travelled with Chege. Their bodies remained in the bush as fighting continued.

“We left Kenya as 11,” Chege said. “When we entered Ukraine, ten of us died. I survived alone.”

At that point, Chege realised death surrounded him.

“War Has No Mercy”

As fighting intensified, Chege witnessed constant explosions, drone strikes, and mass casualties. He says death occurred every minute.

According to Chege, African fighters faced danger from both sides. Ukrainian forces attacked relentlessly, while Russian commanders showed no concern for their safety.

“They don’t care how you feel,” he said. “You must obey orders, even if they send you to die.”

As a result, Chege warns Kenyans against accepting job offers linked to Russia.

“It’s a death trap,” he said. “Your chances of survival are almost zero.”

Plotting a Desperate Escape

After losing all his compatriots, Chege began planning his escape. Although the move carried huge risk, he decided to try.

First, he pretended to suffer mental illness on the battlefield. He fired randomly, screamed uncontrollably, and collapsed during operations.

Eventually, commanders removed him from combat and sent him to a military hospital for psychiatric evaluation.

“They believed I had gone mad,” he said.

Doctors transferred Chege between three hospitals over several days. Throughout the journey, he continued acting unstable.

Embassy Lifeline

At the third hospital, Chege changed tactics.

He told a doctor that his entire family had died in an accident and begged for discharge. Touched by the story, the doctor approved his release and assigned a soldier to escort him back to camp.

Instead, Chege asked the soldier to accompany him to the Kenyan Embassy, claiming fellow Kenyans had raised money for him.

Once inside the embassy, Chege switched to Kiswahili and pleaded for help.

“They understood immediately,” he said.

Embassy officials quickly arranged his return home. Chege’s family later sent money for his flight after learning he had escaped.

Finally, Chege landed back in Kenya on January 16.

Growing Kenyan Recruitment Crisis

Chege’s ordeal highlights a wider problem.

In September 2025, Ukrainian forces captured Kenyan athlete Evans Kibet while he fought for Russia. Kibet later revealed that recruiters promised him transport and construction work before forcing him into combat.

According to Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, more than 200 Kenyans may have joined the Russian military through similar deception.

Mudavadi says some Kenyans remain detained in Ukraine, while others returned home with severe injuries and trauma.

As investigations continue, Chege’s story serves as a chilling warning to Kenyan youth chasing overseas jobs without proper verification.