I’m now surviving on one kidney and a metal-adjusted liver – Ghanaian Russian recruit cries out

A 25-year-old Ghanaian man,, has shared a harrowing account of how a promised overseas job opportunity allegedly led him into active combat in the Russia–Ukraine war, leaving him with severe injuries and long-term health complications.

Speaking in an interview with, Maxwell recounted how he was recruited through what he described as a travelling agent who promised him a well-paying job in Russia, only for him to later find himself enlisted in military operations near the Ukrainian border.

According to him, the arrangement began in Dubai, where he was introduced to an agent who claimed to have secured a job involving support duties for military personnel. Maxwell said he was never informed that he would be deployed as a frontline combatant.

He explained that upon arrival in Russia, he and other recruits—reportedly from several African countries—were taken through a series of medical checks and transported to a military facility. He alleged that they were later pressured into signing contracts written in Russian, which they did not fully understand.

Maxwell further claimed that recruits were told they had officially joined the military after being housed alongside dozens of other foreign nationals. He said attempts to withdraw were discouraged, with threats of financial penalties for travel and visa costs allegedly made against those who resisted.

He described intensive training involving weapons handling and battlefield preparation before being deployed to active combat zones close to the conflict frontlines.

Maxwell recounted extremely harsh battlefield conditions, including limited rest, constant movement, and exposure to continuous security threats. He said survival depended on strict instructions, constant communication with commanders, and rapid response to emergencies.

His most traumatic experience, he said, occurred during a deployment when he stepped on a landmine, resulting in life-threatening injuries. He also alleged subsequent drone strikes in the area intensified the chaos during the incident.

After sustaining injuries, Maxwell said he managed to survive by applying basic first aid on himself before attempting a difficult multi-day journey toward a safer zone under extreme conditions.

He was later admitted to a military hospital in Moscow, where he reportedly spent several days in a coma. Maxwell says he now lives with significant internal injuries, including damage to vital organs, and requires ongoing medical care.

He also alleged that a Ghanaian intermediary involved in the recruitment process defrauded him of compensation funds while he was trying to arrange his return home.

Maxwell’s story highlights growing concerns about the alleged recruitment of Africans into foreign conflicts through deceptive job offers and unregulated labour migration channels.

The report was developed with support from the and the under a programme by focused on countering misinformation and improving public awareness around conflict-related recruitment risks.