Kenyan athlete Evans Kibet says he was duped into becoming a member of the Russian military and going to Ukraine

[ad_1] Akisa Wandera BBC Africa, Nairobi and

Vitalii Chervonenko BBC Ukrainian, Kyiv

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/9202/live/bcab3690-94a4-11f0-84c8-99de564f0440.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/9202/live/bcab3690-94a4-11f0-84c8-99de564f0440.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/9202/live/bcab3690-94a4-11f0-84c8-99de564f0440.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/9202/live/bcab3690-94a4-11f0-84c8-99de564f0440.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/9202/live/bcab3690-94a4-11f0-84c8-99de564f0440.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/9202/live/bcab3690-94a4-11f0-84c8-99de564f0440.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/9202/live/bcab3690-94a4-11f0-84c8-99de564f0440.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/9202/live/bcab3690-94a4-11f0-84c8-99de564f0440.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Edith Chesoi A head shot of Evans Kibet wearing a pink shirt and looking at the camera." class="sc-86c96223-0 fHZDyi"/> Edith Chesoi With tears in his eyes, a younger Kenyan athlete now captive in Ukraine pleads to not be despatched again to Russia.

"I'll die there," Evans Kibet says, waving his arms within the air in the direction of the unseen interviewer on the video launched on Wednesday by a Ukrainian military brigade.

The 36-year-old prisoner-of-war is carrying a crimson sports activities high. The brigade's flag is pinned up behind him.

The aspiring long-distance runner says he was tricked into becoming a member of the Russian military and is determined to go house to see his 16-year-old daughter.

In a Fb publish accompanying the video, the 57th Separate Motorised Infantry Brigade mentioned it was an instance of how Russia treats international recruits however added that he had "fought on the aspect of the enemy, so whether or not to imagine the phrases and tears is as much as your discretion".

The brigade mentioned the interview was filmed with Kibet's consent, however the BBC has not verified this. Although recruits from overseas within the Russian military aren't unprecedented, it is a uncommon case of a captive foreigner talking on video.

Residents of Somalia, Sierra Leone, Togo, Cuba and Sri Lanka , amongst others, are at present held in Ukrainian prisoner-of-war camps, Petro Yatsenko, Ukraine's spokesperson on the therapy of prisoners of warfare, advised the BBC.

"Most of those people come from poorer international locations and find yourself on the Russian aspect in several methods. Some are deceived – promised jobs at factories – whereas others be a part of the warfare voluntarily. You will need to perceive that only a few are captured alive; most are both killed or significantly injured," he added.

Again in Kenya, Kibet's household and associates are in shock over what they've seen.

After a heavy sigh and an extended pause, his cousin Edith Chesoi advised the BBC that she had been replaying the video time and again in her head.

"I'm so traumatised. I did not sleep at evening. I do not even know what to say."

Kibet's youthful brother, Isaac Kipyego, described him as "humble man and a person with a couple of phrases" in addition to a pillar and advisor to the remainder of the household.

They know him as somebody devoted to his sport.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/5907/live/a3779960-9572-11f0-bc5b-7ff2de9d2e33.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/5907/live/a3779960-9572-11f0-bc5b-7ff2de9d2e33.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/5907/live/a3779960-9572-11f0-bc5b-7ff2de9d2e33.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/5907/live/a3779960-9572-11f0-bc5b-7ff2de9d2e33.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/5907/live/a3779960-9572-11f0-bc5b-7ff2de9d2e33.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/5907/live/a3779960-9572-11f0-bc5b-7ff2de9d2e33.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/5907/live/a3779960-9572-11f0-bc5b-7ff2de9d2e33.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/5907/live/a3779960-9572-11f0-bc5b-7ff2de9d2e33.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Edith Chesoi Evans running" class="sc-86c96223-0 fHZDyi"/> Edith Chesoi Evans Kibet by no means made the large time however did compete in decrease profile occasions

"I really like operating, I really like operating," Kibet says on the Ukrainian video. And it was this which will have led him to turning into an unwitting Russian recruit.

Kibet had constructed his life round athletics, a sport that has lifted many Kenyans like him from villages to world recognition.

He grew up in a farming household from the Mount Elgon space in western Kenya.

Kibet skilled in Iten, the high-altitude city famed for producing Olympians and world champions, however in a aggressive area he by no means reached that standing. As a substitute, he competed in lesser-known 10km and half-marathon street races in Europe and Asia, based on household and associates.

"Kibet has been operating since he was a toddler," his youthful brother mentioned. "He is at all times been gifted. Operating was his life."

However whereas the game outlined his identification, it had not delivered the monetary breakthrough he longed for.

Buddies say Kibet had been struggling financially.

In March, he requested a coaching associate, Elias Kiptum, to assist him race in Poland, however the staff that was going was already full.

"I assume that is how he ended up in Russia," Kiptum advised the BBC.

When, later within the yr, a sports activities agent provided him a visit to Russia to participate in races, Kibet seized the chance. The BBC's calls to the agent to verify this haven't been picked up.

"He was very excited when he advised me he was going to race in Russia," Kibet's brother mentioned. "Even I used to be glad for him. We had excessive expectations."

His cousin, Ms Chesoi, who escorted him to the bus park on the primary leg of the journey on the finish of July, mentioned he carried simply "a small-sized suitcase".

Kibet advised his household he would solely be gone for 2 weeks.

On the video filmed in Ukraine, Kibet says that he went to Russia as a customer and never for a "navy job".

Then, after a fortnight, his host requested him if he want to keep longer.

"I mentioned: 'Sure, however the issue is that my visa is expired'. He mentioned: 'No, I can do one thing for you.'" After which he promised Kibet a job.

"Within the night, he got here with some papers written in Russian. He advised me: 'That is the job I need you to do.'

"I did not realize it was a navy job."

Kibet says he then signed the papers and the person took his telephone and passport.

"And that's how all the pieces went improper... that signing ruined my life."

'Both you struggle or we'll kill you'

In response to Kibet, another individuals turned up and advised him to get in a automotive. They then drove for round seven hours.

"I discovered myself in a navy camp."

Kibet says he was knowledgeable that he had signed as much as be within the military and that he had no alternative.

"I used to be advised: 'Both you go to struggle or we'll kill you.'"

He says per week of primary coaching adopted, throughout which he was proven how you can deal with an automated rifle. None of his commanders spoke English, so directions got here by means of shoves and gestures.

Kibet insists he by no means engaged in fight after which on the best way to what would have been his first mission, he ditched his tools and escaped, wandering for 2 days by means of a forest close to Vovchansk in Ukraine's north-eastern Kharkiv area.

He then approached some Ukrainian troopers.

"I went there with my arms up," he says repeating the gesture for the digicam.

"I mentioned: 'I'm a Kenyan, please do not shoot me.'

"Everybody pointed their weapons at me, however I advised them to settle down. The commander got here, they tied me. I advised them: 'No, I'm unarmed, I do not need something. I am right here to avoid wasting my life."

Regardless of Kibet's household being in shock over the video, there's some reduction that he's within the arms of the Ukrainians.

"We really feel that he is a bit secure [with them] reasonably than being in Russia," his brother Mr Kipyego mentioned.

The household is asking the Kenyan authorities to intervene. The ministry of international affairs has not but responded to a request for remark.

"If the federal government of his nation of origin expresses curiosity in his repatriation, Ukraine is open to negotiations about transferring him house," Ukrainian spokesperson Mr Yatsenko mentioned.

Nonetheless, talking about different prisoners-of-war, he added that "most African states present little curiosity within the return of such residents and don't want to take them again".

For Kibet's family members, their solely precedence is his security.

"If he made a mistake, allow them to forgive him. We solely need him again," his brother mentioned.

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