Russia and Ukraine War Archives

Zambia is seeking answers from Russia after a Zambian student who was serving a prison sentence in Russia ended up dying at the battlefront in Ukraine.

Nathan Lemekhani Nyirenda, 23, was serving a nine-year prison sentence in Russia after being convicted of drug possession in 2020.

But Zambia’s Foreign Minister Stanely Kakubo, at a Monday news conference, said the government was informed on November 9 that Nyirenda had died at the battlefront in Ukraine.

“The Zambian government has requested the Russian authorities to urgently provide information on the circumstances under which a Zambian citizen serving a prison sentence in Moscow could have been recruited to fight in Ukraine and subsequently lose his life.”

Zambia’s Foreign Ministry says it learned that Nyirenda died on September 22 in Ukraine and that his remains were taken to the Russian border town of Rostov to be sent back to Zambia.

Kakubo, who said he visited Nyirenda’s family, said will communicate more details once the Russian authorities provide more information on the circumstances of his death.

Nyirenda was studying nuclear engineering at the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute before his conviction.

As Russia has struggled in its war against Ukraine, reports from Russia indicate authorities have been recruiting troops from prisons.

A lot of Russians have been queuing up to leave the country after President Vladimir Putin announced a mobilization 300,000 reservists to join the war in Ukraine.

This mobilization is Russia’s first since World War two and one that has drawn a lot of criticism from leaders all over the world.

In a rare Television address to his nation, Putin declared a ‘partial mobilization’ of his country’s citizens.

He said: “When the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we will certainly use all the means at our disposal to protect Russia and our people. This is not a bluff.”

“Those who are trying to blackmail us with nuclear weapons should know that the wind patterns can also turn in their direction, the president added – accusing the US and allies of seeking to destroy Russia.

After his address, google recorded a spike in searches like ‘How to leave Russia’ and ‘How to break an arm at home’. Also, there is a traffic jam at the border between Russia and Finland, as many desperate citizens try to flee the country to avoid mobilization.

The queue is reportedly more than 20 miles long and growing by the hour.

Independent journalist, Sotiri Dimpinoudis took to his social media to share first-hand footage of the traffic jam.

He said that the border is the only one still open to Russian civilians with Shengen visas.

Also, the mobilization announcement has led to an anti-mobilization protest by Russians in the city of Tomsk.

The addition of this troops would mean a major escalation of the Russian campaign in Ukraine, even as the Ukrainians are starting to chase Russia out of occupied territories.

Russia and Ukraine War

Zambia Student Serving Prison Term in Russia Dies at Ukrainian Battlefront

Russians Flee Country After President Putin Announce Mobilizaiton