Former KDF Soldier Tells How He Fought in Ukraine Before Escaping to Kenya

A former Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldier has described his experience fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war after leaving the Kenyan military, recounting how he was recruited, wounded and eventually escaped back to Kenya.

Dishon Adam served in the KDF for 10 years before resigning in late 2023. He said he left because of post-traumatic stress and the strain of spending long periods away from his family. After leaving the military, he began posting fitness videos online. One of the videos attracted the interest of Russian recruiters.

Adam said he understood that he was travelling to Russia to join its military, unlike some other Kenyans who have said they were misled about the nature of the work. He travelled to Moscow, where recruits were monitored before being asked to sign contracts written entirely in Russian.

According to Adam, the recruits were told they had only two choices: join the military or go to prison. Faced with that decision, they signed the contracts.

He said the war in Ukraine was very different from the combat he experienced while serving in Somalia. Instead of mainly facing rifle fire, soldiers had to deal with drones, landmines and explosive traps hidden in abandoned buildings.

"The trees were dry and black, the houses were abandoned and there were mines everywhere. I had never seen anything like that before," he said.

Adam explained that survival often depended on remaining completely still to avoid detection by drones. He said the constant threat of attack, together with the loss of fellow soldiers, placed heavy psychological pressure on those fighting on the front line.

He travelled to Russia with 13 other Kenyans but said he was deployed alongside only one of them. That soldier was seriously injured after stepping on a landmine shortly after reaching the battlefield, leaving Adam to serve among foreign fighters.

Adam said he was assigned to Wagner Group special forces, where he took part in night operations across dangerous terrain. Throughout his deployment, he said his main objective was to survive and return home.

His opportunity to leave came after he was shot in the leg and required several operations. Although he was recovering from his injuries, he was informed that he would be sent back to the battlefield once he was fit enough to fight.

Believing he could no longer continue, Adam planned his escape. After observing the routine at the hospital, he asked to visit a bank, bribed the guard escorting him and left the facility using crutches.

He said several taxi drivers and ride-hailing services refused to take him before he eventually met a Kenyan student, who helped him reach the Kenyan embassy. From there, he arranged his journey back to Nairobi.