The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) has identified another foreign mercenary eliminated while fighting for the russian occupation army — Prakash Stiven Boakye, a citizen of the Republic of Mauritius, born on 16 April 1995.

On 22 June 2025, Prakash arrived in st. petersburg, ostensibly as a tourist, reportedly planning to return to Africa on 21 July. However, his plans appear to have changed, and he remained in the territory of the aggressor state.

On 21 August 2025, russian authorities issued Prakash an administrative violation notice for illegally staying in russia and fined him 7,000 rubles (equivalent to USD 88.69 at the time).

Like hundreds of other foreigners who found themselves stranded in russia without money, Prakash was offered a way out — to sign a "short-term" contract with the Russian occupation army. He agreed.

After just one week of training, the Mauritian national was assigned to assault units and sent to the front lines of russia's criminal war against Ukraine. He was eliminated around December 2025 while attempting to illegally cross Ukraine's state border in the Sumy region.

Prakash became another victim of a common russian scheme used to deceive tourists, labour migrants, and students from Africa. Recruiters arrange visas, purchase one-way tickets, and promise employment in russia. Upon arrival in moscow or st. petersburg, an intermediary meets them, confiscates their passport under the pretext of processing paperwork, and places them in a hostel.

A few days later, they discover that the promised job does not exist, their visa has been cancelled, and they have no money to return home. They are then presented with three options: deportation with debts, imprisonment, or signing a contract with the russian occupation army — the terms of which they often do not even understand because of the language barrier.

We remind all foreign mercenaries serving in the russian armed forces, as well as russian citizens themselves, that the only realistic chance of surviving russia's criminal war against Ukraine is to surrender voluntarily.

This can be done through the "I Want to Live" project by contacting its secure Telegram chatbot.