A mercenary of the Russian army from Somalia, Muhammad Adil, was captured by the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the beginning of January 2024. Online.ua journalists managed to ask the captured foreigner why he came to Russia, how he got into the occupying army, how much he trained before he got to the front line, and which of his decisions he regrets.
Why a captured Somali joined the Russian army
The captured mercenary says his name is Muhammad Adil. He is from Somalia, and he is 28 years old. He learned English in computer courses in Somalia and lived at home with his parents, sisters, wife and daughter.
He says it is impossible to find a regular job in Somalia, so everyone there dreams of going abroad to help their families.
I arrived in Russia on August 8 on a tourist visa. A friend of mine from Somalia told me that you can find a good job in Russia. Yes, I came on a tourist visa and I know it's illegal. But it was the only way to find a job. Why Russia? Because it's the easiest way, it's a country that accepts Somalis. Other countries, European countries do not accept people with Somali passports.
After arriving in the Russian Federation, he got a job at a factory but soon saw an advertisement for the Russian army on the street and signed a contract on December 3, 2023.
Less than a month later, he found himself on the front line in the territory of Ukraine on January 4, 2024.
Ukrainian soldiers took me prisoner. I knew nothing about the war. I am a simple person who came from another country to earn a living for my family in Somalia. I don't know anything about strategic things in war: how to hide, how to fight, how to handle weapons, how to do anything.
Service in the Russian army
The mercenary says the Russian commanders allotted them only one hour for training — hiding behind a wall, loading and unloading weapons, and inserting a mag.
I was in a group with five people from the day they brought us to Ukraine. They said we are in Ukraine... I asked what I was doing here. No one answered me. No one explained anything to me about what to do... But as soon as they told me that I was in Ukraine, I realised that I got into trouble that I shouldn't have gotten into.
Muhammad Adil said that he was promised a Russian passport and money, but he didn't ask when he would receive them. Now, he says he wishes to return time and stay in Somalia.
