Number of Ghanaians who have died in Russia-Ukraine war increases to 62, 15 missing

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has disclosed that the number of Ghanaians who have died in the Russia-Ukraine war has increased to 62 from the earlier reported 55.

Ablakwa is reported to have announced these figures while raising concern over the recruitment of Ghanaians to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war during talks with Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, in Moscow as part of a 3-day working visit to the European country.

According to a post shared by DW Africa, on August 18, 2026, Ablakwa told the Russian Foreign Minister that the illegal recruitment of Ghanaians to fight in the war must stop.

“Ghana says 62 of its citizens have been killed and 15 are missing after being recruited to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war.

“Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa raised the issue during talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, calling for an end to what he described as the illegal recruitment of Ghanaians,” the DW Africa post read.

According to the post, Lavrov while addressing the development sought to explain that contrary to the belief that they lure young people to their untimely death, he maintained that the foreigners fighting with the Russian army voluntarily signed military contracts.

Video shows a Ghanaian among dozens of Russian fighters captured by Ukraine

The government of Ghana had previously stated that at least 272 Ghanaians have been lured into the Russia-Ukraine war since 2022, with many recruited through deceptive job offers.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on his part also said the government had received information indicating that 55 Ghanaians had been killed, while two others were being held as prisoners of war.

According to Ablakwa, the affected Ghanaians were victims of manipulation, misinformation and criminal trafficking networks.

He said the government was concerned about recruitment schemes that allegedly promise Ghanaians jobs in Russia before they are drawn into the conflict and deployed to fight for Russian forces.

The government has consequently launched investigations into suspected recruitment networks and is working to dismantle what it describes as illegal recruitment schemes operating within Ghana.

Ablakwa has also indicated that Ghana is engaging Ukraine over the fate of the two Ghanaians captured on the battlefield, while urging greater vigilance over overseas job offers.

See the post below:



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