President Ruto requests Zelensky to release kenyans detained in Ukraine

Kenyan President William Ruto has requested his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, to help secure the release of Kenyans detained in Ukraine after being captured while fighting on the Russian side amid the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. Ruto made the request during a telephone conversation with President Zelensky. In a message shared on X, Ruto said the two leaders discussed several issues of mutual interest between Kenya and Ukraine. "We expressed concern over young Kenyans who have been illegally recruited to fight in the war in Ukraine and agreed to raise awareness of th

Kenyan President William Ruto has requested his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, to help secure the release of Kenyans detained in Ukraine after being captured while fighting on the Russian side amid the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. Ruto made the request during a telephone conversation with President Zelensky. In a message shared on X, Ruto said the two leaders discussed several issues of mutual interest between Kenya and Ukraine. "We expressed concern over young Kenyans who have been illegally recruited to fight in the war in Ukraine and agreed to raise awareness of the dangers of such ventures," Ruto wrote. He added that he requested Zelensky to facilitate the release of any Kenyan currently in Ukrainian custody. "I am grateful to His Excellency for acceding to my appeal," he said. Earlier, Ukrainian forces announced that they had captured several Kenyans fighting on the Russian side. According to Ukraine’s 57th Brigade, the fighters were detained in the Kharkiv region, with reports indicating that about four Kenyans were held. The war in Ukraine began in February 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion, claiming it sought to prevent NATO from expanding closer to Russian borders. The conflict has involved many nations, with the United States and European countries supporting Ukraine, while foreign fighters from around the world have joined both sides.