With video games, the Kremlin is finding new talents to continue its war against Ukraine. The main target of these new methods is the African continent.
From virtual to reality, there is sometimes only one step, especially in Russia. Among its recruitment strategies for the war in Ukraine, Russia is using video games to find mercenaries and drone pilots, as explained by 20 Minutes.
Kremlin agents visit gaming platforms like Discord to recruit young people and send them to fight in Ukraine.
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Soldiers and Pilots
This is how two young South African gamers from a shooting game called Arma 3 were contacted by a Russian recruiter in 2024. After several exchanges, the three individuals met in Cape Town, before heading to the Russian consulate. Attracted by a large sum of money, the possibility of obtaining Russian citizenship, and the opportunity to continue their studies, they agreed to sign a military contract near St. Petersburg. Shortly after, one of them was killed fighting in the Luhansk region in Donbass.
Recruitments are also taking place in Russia. The best players of Berloga (a game where the user pilots a drone) can earn bonus points towards their high school diploma. They are then directed towards scientific and technological competitions, and later towards internships in defense industry-affiliated companies.
Propaganda Tool
The gaming world can also serve as a propaganda tool. On February 4, 2023, in St. Petersburg, a 16-year-old boy known as GrishaPutin live-streamed one of his games of Hearts of Iron IV from the Wagner Center. Dressed in military uniform, he presented a modified version of the game where Ukraine was portrayed as the aggressor.
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Since then, the young boy has collaborated with the Russian African Initiative information service to promote this version to African players. Russia is depicted as supporting pan-African movements against Western neo-colonial powers.
