The war in Ukraine continues to reveal its international ramifications. According to an investigation published in February 2026 by the international investigative collective All Eyes On Wagner, Guinean nationals are among the foreign fighters engaged alongside Russia.

According to data from the Ukrainian program "I Want to Live", nine Guinean citizens have been identified as having joined Russian forces between 2023 and 2025. Among them, three are confirmed to have died on the front, according to cross-checks by investigators.

A global phenomenon that also affects Africa

The investigation identified 1,417 African fighters from 35 countries, including 316 confirmed deaths. However, the report's authors note that these figures are likely underestimated due to a lack of official communication and difficulties in identifying them on the ground.

Although Guinea is not among the most affected countries, its presence on the list confirms the expansion of Russian recruitment far beyond areas traditionally associated with private military companies, such as the Wagner Group.

Identities not made public

Unlike some documented cases in southern or central Africa, the identities of the three deceased Guineans have not been publicly revealed.

Investigators cite several reasons: the lack of official notification to families, ongoing verification procedures, and the desire to protect the victims' relatives.

In several African countries, families have discovered the deaths of their relatives via social media or through humanitarian NGOs, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the fate of these foreign fighters.

Controversial recruitment methods

The report mentions several recruitment methods: promises of employment, granting of visas, security contracts, or even recruitment of migrants in precarious situations.

Some people were reportedly recruited after administrative detention in Russia, before being sent to the front.

Researchers note that many Africans were placed on the front line, thus explaining a particularly high mortality rate.

Silence from the Guinean authorities

So far, no official reaction has been issued by the Guinean authorities regarding the presence of nationals of the country in the conflict.

In other African nations, these revelations have prompted diplomatic efforts and requests for explanations from Moscow.

As the war in Ukraine drags on, this report highlights the vulnerability of African citizens abroad and raises questions about the true extent of the phenomenon, which is still difficult to assess accurately.