Russian Embassy in Kenya Says 6 Killed, 37 Injured in Ukrainian Missile Strike
The Embassy of Russia in Kenya has confirmed that at least six civilians were killed and dozens injured following a missile strike on the Russian city of Bryansk, in what Moscow says is one of the latest attacks in the ongoing Russia–Ukraine War.
In a statement issued on March 11, the Russian diplomatic mission said the strike was carried out by Ukrainian forces and alleged that the attack deliberately targeted civilian areas within the city.
Bryansk, located in western Russia close to the Ukrainian border, has frequently been affected by cross-border hostilities since the conflict escalated in 2022.
According to the embassy, the missile strike resulted in multiple casualties among residents and left dozens of people injured.
“6 civilians were killed and 37 wounded in a missile strike by Ukraine on Bryansk city in Russia. The Kiev regime deliberately targeted civilians,” the Russian Embassy said in its statement.
Authorities said emergency services were deployed immediately after the strike to rescue victims and transport the injured to nearby hospitals.
Despite confirming the casualties, the embassy noted that it could not immediately determine whether any Kenyan nationals were among those killed or injured in the attack.
The diplomatic mission also called on the international community to take note of the incident and urged global actors to intervene in order to protect civilians caught up in the conflict.
The development comes at a time when concerns are growing among Kenyan families whose relatives travelled abroad and reportedly joined the Russian military after recruitment drives that targeted foreign nationals.
In one such case, the family of Humphrey Kimani recently appealed for government assistance after losing contact with their relative.
According to the family, communication with Kimani suddenly stopped weeks after he reportedly travelled abroad and enlisted in the Russian army.
Relatives say repeated attempts to reach him have been unsuccessful, raising fears that he could have been caught up in the fighting.
Reports presented earlier to Parliament by the National Intelligence Service revealed the scale of the recruitment problem.
The intelligence report indicated that more than 1,000 Kenyan citizens may have been unlawfully recruited into the Russian military, often through networks promising lucrative job opportunities abroad.
According to the report, recruits were enticed with promises of monthly salaries of up to KSh350,000, alongside bonuses that could exceed KSh1.2 million.
However, many of those who travelled abroad reportedly found themselves deployed into combat zones.
As of February 2026, official figures showed that 39 Kenyan nationals had been hospitalised, 30 had been repatriated, and 28 remained missing in action.
Authorities also reported that 35 Kenyans were stationed in military camps, while 89 were actively engaged in frontline operations.
Separate tallies suggest that at least ten Kenyan nationals have died in the conflict, although some estimates warn the number could rise to 18. Additionally, four Kenyans are believed to be prisoners of war in Ukrainian custody.
In response to growing concerns, the Kenyan government has begun diplomatic engagements aimed at tracing and assisting citizens caught up in the war.
Korir Singoei, the Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, has held meetings with Russian and Ukrainian diplomats in Nairobi to explore possible mechanisms for tracing Kenyan nationals and facilitating their repatriation.
Officials say the discussions are part of broader efforts to protect Kenyan citizens abroad and address the growing challenge of foreign recruitment into armed conflicts.
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Russian Embassy in Kenya Says 6 Killed, 37 Injured in Ukrainian Missile Strike
