Zimbabweans lured into Russia’s war as families plead for their return

Zimbabwean authorities have confirmed that at least 18 citizens have died while serving with Russian forces in Ukraine, with recruitment networks allegedly offering sign-on bonuses of up to $37,000 and monthly wages of approximately $4,000 to lure economically desperate job seekers into military service. The Zimbabwean government said it can repatriate only four of the deceased due to documentation problems, while journalist investigations have identified a cross-border trafficking network operating from Moscow and South Africa that confiscates recruits' passports upon arrival and forces them into military contracts.