The Russia-Africa Summit ended on Friday without addressing the controversial recruitment of African nationals into the Russian military to fight in Ukraine, leaving Zimbabweans held captive by Ukrainian forces pleading for intervention as they fear they have been forgotten.

The three Zimbabweans, who were captured while fighting for the Russian army, have appealed for their plight to be addressed, expressing concern that their families and relatives back home remain unaware of their fate.

“We have been here in captivity for some time, and it’s like we’re now forgotten. We are worried about our families and relatives; they don’t know our fate,” the captives said in a message from prison.

The prisoners had hoped the summit would give African leaders a chance to raise their situation, urging that the issue be brought before the meeting.

“Since there is an upcoming Russia-Africa Summit, we wish our plight to be addressed at this meeting,” they said.

The three also indicated that they wanted to return to Russia after their release, rather than return directly to Zimbabwe.

Their appeal highlights the increasingly sensitive issue of African nationals who have travelled to Russia and subsequently found themselves fighting in the war against Ukraine, with some ending up in Ukrainian captivity.

According to the I Want Life project, nationals from 59 countries have been captured by Ukrainian forces since Russia launched its full-scale invasion, including citizens from 18 African countries.

The project says 30 per cent of the captives want to return to their home countries, while the majority, 70 per cent, prefer to go back to Russia.

The circumstances surrounding the recruitment of the three Zimbabweans, including how they joined the Russian military and when they were captured, were not provided.

Their appeal comes amid growing scrutiny of Russia’s recruitment of foreign nationals to fight in Ukraine and concerns over the fate of African fighters captured during the conflict.