AS the war between Russia and Ukraine enters into its fourth year on February 24, the Zimbabwe Independent deputy news editor Tinashe Kairiza (TK) spoke to Ukraine’s Ambassador to South Africa and Zimbabwe, Olexander Shcherba (OS), who bemoaned how Europe's deadliest war since the second world war has not only claimed lives but disrupted global trade. The diplomat warned Africans from being recruited to fight in the war. In his words, Africans must resist being used as “meat for the meat grinder.” Below are excerpts of the interview:
TK: How has the war disrupted trade between Ukraine and Zimbabwe?
OS: The bilateral trade was incomparable to the potential of our countries. And, because of war it became even more constrained. The full-scale invasion has complicated trade logistics, including with Zimbabwe. The maritime security risks in the Black Sea grew, the insurance and freight costs increased, especially in the first year. Things became more complicated, to say the least.
TK: What are the trade statistics between Harare and Kyiv over the past four years?
OS: I do not want to pin down an exact number. It is low and needs to be increased. Publicly available trade data indicate that direct exports from Ukraine to Zimbabwe have been relatively small in recent years, while Zimbabwe’s exports to Ukraine, primarily mineral-related products, have been somewhat higher in value.
TK: What wheat volumes has Ukraine exported to Zimbabwe over the past four years?
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OS: Ukraine was and still is famously one of the world’s leading wheat exporters. In years prior to the invasion, Zimbabwe imported Ukrainian grain products, but since 2022 trade patterns have shifted due to logistical disruptions and alternative sourcing. It is important to note that global grain markets are interconnected and Ukrainian grain also reaches African markets indirectly through international trading hubs.
TK: What opportunities exist for boosting trade and strengthening bilateral ties despite the war?
OS: Even in wartime conditions, opportunities remain for strengthening the cooperation. These include agricultural technologies, food processing, education, IT services and academic exchange. Ukraine is also interested in cooperation in food security initiatives, skills development and potentially joint projects in agribusiness modernisation. Diversified logistics routes and partnerships with regional hubs in Southern Africa may also help facilitate increased trade over time.
TK: Has the African Union expressed solidarity with Ukraine?
OS: The African Union (AU) has adopted a position emphasising necessity of dialogue, de-escalation and peaceful resolution rather than explicit political alignment. While individual African states have taken different positions in United Nations (UN) votes, the AU as an institution has focused on humanitarian concerns and diplomatic engagement. Ukraine respects Africa’s sovereign foreign policy choices and continues dialogue with AU members on the basis of international law and the UN Charter.
TK: How can African countries contribute to a lasting peace solution in Ukraine?
OS: Those, who are still friends with Russia, can approach it and say: “enough is enough, this war is not only bloody, but also unnecessary and it hurts the whole world, including Africa”. Russia keeps saying that global majority supports Russia in this war. Well, maybe it is time to tell them: “We are friends with you but stop conducting this war in our name, we never gave you this right”. And if the Global South would do it, it would play a huge role and save endless lives.
A just and sustainable peace cannot be built on silence in the face of wrongdoing. It must be built on accountability, respect for sovereignty and solidarity with the victim of aggression. Ukraine believes that standing for these principles is not taking sides in a geopolitical rivalry. It is standing on the side of truth, justice and the fundamental rights of nations to exist freely and securely.
TK: What measures has Ukraine taken regarding reports of Africans being recruited by Russia?
OS: There is not much we can do, as long as Africans fight on the side of those who invaded our land and doing horrible things to it. So, our message to Africans is twofold: (a) do not go there, it is one of the bloodiest wars in modern history. And (b): if you do wind up there, try to surrender. Ukraine knows that some Africans have been misled, coerced, or recruited under false pretences to participate in Russia’s war of conquest. It will treat you as PoW or as a victim of human trafficking (if you are one, of course).
Ukraine has actively raised international awareness about these deceptive recruitment schemes. They include cases where individuals were offered employment, educational opportunities, or security contracts, only to find themselves deployed in combat roles. Ukrainian diplomatic missions engage with partner governments across Africa to share verified information and highlight the legal, financial and personal risks associated with such recruitment.
Ukraine supports transparent investigations by national authorities into recruitment intermediaries, travel facilitators and organisations suspected of involvement in misleading or coercive practices. Combating these schemes is not only about Ukraine’s security, it is also about protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitation and preventing the loss of life in a war that is not theirs.
Ultimately, the issue is about truth and responsibility. Young people anywhere in the world should not be used as “meat” for a meat grinder. Addressing deceptive recruitment practices is part of the broader effort to defend international law, human dignity and the principle that aggression must not be normalised.
TK: What is the number of Africans currently fighting in Ukraine?
OS: Precise figures are difficult to verify due to the dynamic and opaque nature of foreign recruitment. However, Ukrainian officials have publicly stated that individuals from several African countries have been identified among foreign nationals fighting on the Russian side. These cases appear to represent a small number relative to the overall scale of the conflict, but they remain a matter of concern.
TK: How has the war impacted Ukraine’s ties with Africa?
OS: The war has not reduced Ukraine’s engagement with Africa — it has made it more focused and strategically important. Russia’s aggression is not only an attack on Ukraine, but a challenge to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that matter deeply to African nations as well.
Despite the pressures of wartime, Ukraine has intensified diplomatic outreach across the continent. The war has reinforced Ukraine’s understanding that Africa’s voice is essential in shaping a fair and stable international order. Our engagement is based on partnership, mutual respect and shared belief that independence and justice are not negotiable.
TK: Has Ukraine’s assistance to African states declined over the past four years?
OS: Like any country facing full-scale military aggression, Ukraine had to prioritise national defence, economic stability and energy resilience. Naturally, this has constrained our ability to provide traditional forms of external assistance at the scale seen in peacetime.
However, Ukraine has not withdrawn from Africa. We continued to engage through targeted and meaningful initiatives.
A key example is the humanitarian programme “Grain from Ukraine”, launched to support countries most affected by global food insecurity. Despite Russia’s attempts to weaponise food supplies and disrupt exports, Ukraine has delivered grain to vulnerable African states in cooperation with international partners, demonstrating that even under attack, we remain committed to global responsibility.