A young Sierra Leonean man, Sorie, reportedly from Calaba Town in Freetown’s east end, is said to have been killed while serving in the Russian military on the frontline of the war in Ukraine. Reports of his death emerged on social media over the weekend, accompanied by photographs showing him in a Russian military uniform and messages from relatives and friends mourning his loss.
According to claims circulating among his relatives, Sorie left Sierra Leone a few months ago in search of better employment opportunities abroad but later found himself involved in active combat in Ukraine. However, as of Monday, November 2, 2026, neither the Sierra Leone Government nor the country’s Embassy in Moscow had officially confirmed his identity or the circumstances surrounding his reported death.
Sierraloaded is withholding his full name pending confirmation from his family. His reported death comes amid growing concerns over the recruitment of Sierra Leoneans and other African nationals into the Russian military to fight in the ongoing war against Ukraine. According to information published by Ukrainian Defence Intelligence (HUR) and the Ukrainian humanitarian initiative ‘I Want to Live’, at least 13 Sierra Leoneans have signed military contracts with Russia since 2023.
At least two Sierra Leoneans have reportedly been held as prisoners of war in Ukraine. One of the previously reported casualties was 41-year-old Kamara Alhaji, a native of Bo who was registered in Freetown. On October 2, 2026, HUR disclosed details of his journey to Russia and subsequent deployment to the battlefield.
According to the account, Alhaji travelled from Conakry, Guinea, to Dubai on March 15, 2026, before connecting to Moscow the following day. He reportedly signed a contract with the Russian military after arriving in Russia and was deployed to the Donetsk region in early April, following only a few days of training. He was reportedly killed in early June near Shakove village in Donetsk.
The recruitment of African nationals into the Russian military has also attracted international attention, with concerns that some individuals are being deceived into travelling to Russia under the promise of civilian employment. In a report published on September 10, 2026, Amnesty International described the recruitment of Africans, including Sierra Leoneans, as a form of human trafficking.
A separate investigation titled The Death Contract, published by The Hague-based Journalists for Justice (JFJ) on October 29, 2026, reported that 3,034 Africans from 40 countries had joined the Russian military since October 2022, with at least 502 reportedly killed by June 2026. For Sierra Leone, the report identified 13 recruits and five confirmed deaths.
Key points
- The Sierra Leonean government has not officially confirmed the identity or circumstances of Sorie's death.
- At least 13 Sierra Leoneans have signed military contracts with Russia since 2023.
- The recruitment of African nationals into the Russian military has been described as a form of human trafficking by Amnesty International.
