World

Russian Recruit Fled After Learning He Would Be Sent to Ukraine Instead of Africa

A Russian man who believed he had signed up for a civilian role with Russia’s Africa Corps says he deserted and fled the country after discovering he would be sent to the front lines in Ukraine.

Georgy Kochkin, a 21-year-old from Moscow, said he volunteered for the job in October 2025 after seeing an advertisement offering high pay and non-combat work.

Speaking to RFE/RL’s Russian Service from Manila in the Philippines, Kochkin described how the recruitment process unfolded and why he decided to escape.

A Job Offer That Promised Easy Money

At the time, Kochkin said he was struggling financially. He had debt and was working at a low-paying factory job in Moscow assembling self-service kiosks, similar to bank machines.

The advertisement that caught his attention offered a lucrative opportunity with a military-linked unit known as the Africa Corps.

The position promised a sign-up bonus of about 2 million rubles (around $25,000) and was described as a civilian role rather than direct combat.

When Kochkin arrived at a Moscow recruitment office on October 11, 2025, he recalled a recruiter joking to his supervisor:

“I brought you some meat.”

Despite the comment, Kochkin continued with the recruitment process.

Hoping to Avoid the War in Ukraine

Kochkin had previously served one year in a technical unit of Russia’s National Guard and had a diploma in information security from a Moscow vocational school.

He hoped his technical background would allow him to work in cybersecurity or drone operations rather than combat.

While volunteering for the war in Ukraine was one way to earn money, Kochkin said he was aware of the high casualty rate among Russian soldiers.

The war, now entering its fifth year, has resulted in hundreds of thousands of Russian casualties, according to various estimates.

For that reason, he believed the Africa Corps position would be a safer alternative.

Recruitment for the Africa Corps

The Africa Corps, reportedly operating under Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency, has been recruiting specialists in several fields including:

• IT technicians

• cybersecurity specialists

• drone operators

• logistics personnel

Russia has expanded its military and security presence in several African countries in recent years.

Kochkin said he insisted on working in information security rather than operating drones.

However, according to his account, the situation changed once he joined the recruitment process.

Discovery That He Was Being Sent to Ukraine

After several months in the system, Kochkin said he discovered he would not be deployed to Africa as promised.

Instead, he was reportedly being prepared for deployment to the war in Ukraine.

Faced with the prospect of being sent to the front lines, Kochkin decided to desert.

He went AWOL (absent without leave) and eventually fled Russia.

Escape to the Philippines

Kochkin ultimately left the country and flew to the Philippines, where he spoke publicly about his experience.

RFE/RL reported that it was unable to independently verify every detail of Kochkin’s story but confirmed some information about the military unit he had been assigned to.

Analysis

Kochkin’s story offers a glimpse into the challenges Russia faces in maintaining troop numbers during the prolonged war in Ukraine.

Recruitment campaigns have increasingly targeted civilians with promises of high salaries, bonuses, and technical roles, which may appeal to young people facing financial pressure.

However, analysts say that some recruits may later discover they are being assigned to frontline combat roles instead of the positions they expected.

As the conflict continues, cases like Kochkin’s highlight the growing tension between recruitment efforts and the realities of the battlefield.