Two Ivorians granted Russian citizenship after fighting in Ukraine
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Tuko
Two Ivorian brothers who went to study in Russia obtained Russian citizenship after serving in assault units deployed in Ukraine. Wounded during their service, they received the Order of Courage and their passports at a ceremony in Cheboksary on 23 October 2026, according to Tuko.
Two Ivorian brothers have obtained Russian citizenship after serving in assault units involved in the war in Ukraine, Tuko reports. Their Russian passports were handed to them on 23 October during a ceremony in Cheboksary, the capital of Chuvashia, following an accelerated procedure for foreigners who have fought for Russia.
The two men arrived in Russia in summer 2025 to take preparatory courses at a university in Chuvashia. They then signed contracts with the Russian Defence Ministry and were deployed in assault units. Wounded during their service, they also took part in evacuating wounded combatants from combat zones, according to Tuko.
The two brothers received the Order of Courage, a Russian military decoration awarded for acts of bravery. Under the Russian legal mechanism, foreigners who sign a military contract of at least one year during the war can obtain a passport after completing their obligations, Tuko reports.
More than 5,400 African nationals from over 40 countries were serving in Russia’s armed forces in 2026, according to independent reports cited by Tuko. The Russian army’s recruitment of foreigners is also documented by the United Nations.
