Ukrainian intelligence authorities have revealed that a staggering 272 Ghanaians have been involved in the Russian-Ukrainian war since 2022, with the number increasing over the last two years.
Out of that number, 55 have been killed in action and 2 captured as prisoners of war. These were revealed to the Ghanaian delegation led by Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who was on a mission to secure the release of the two captured.
The Minister expressed shock at the numbers, indicating that the Ghana government would double efforts at cracking down on criminal trafficking networks that lure young Ghanaians into the protracted war.
The two prisoners of war have pledged their commitment to advocate against young people, especially Ghanaians, from being enticed by the Russians to engage in the war.
As of February 2026, a total of 1,780 Africans from 36 countries have been involved in the war, with several hundreds killed in action.
President Volodimir Zelensky has expressed intentions to release the two captured Ghanaians on humanitarian grounds, which was the purpose of the Ghana mission to Ukraine.
Ghana’s commitment to stem the flow of its citizens through criminal networks to go and fight in the war is seen as a positive show of support to bringing an end to the 4-year old war.
Ghana and Ukraine have had bilateral relations since 1993 which were further strengthened by the visit of Ghana’s Foreign Minister to Ukraine.
Bilateral discussions centred on agricultural cooperation, defence and intelligence cooperation, education and technological partnerships.
By Martin Asiedu-Dartey, reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine, 3news
