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Russia continues to expand its influence across African countries not only through military-technical cooperation but also through information, cultural, and educational initiatives.
According to UATV English, this was reported by Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.
Alongside arms deliveries and military support for certain armed groups in the region, Moscow is developing a network of so-called “Russian Houses,” presented as cultural and educational centers.
“The opening of ‘Russian Houses’ in Africa is being carried out through the federal agency Rossotrudnichestvo in cooperation with the ‘Center for Public Diplomacy’ (CPD), an organization established in 2024. Its stated goal is to expand the network of Russian cultural centers in Africa and promote a positive image of Russia,” the statement said.
The center’s director general is Dmitry Savelyev, a member of the Russian State Duma from Putin’s ruling party, United Russia.
The project in Africa is coordinated by a leadership team that includes:
- Natalia Krasovskaya, who also heads the Consortium of Russian Universities for Cooperation with African Countries;
- Leonid Isayev, responsible for organizing delegation visits to Africa and a researcher at the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences;
- Valeria Manovitskaya, who oversees educational projects and coordinates activities of Rossotrudnichestvo and Russian Houses in Africa.
Focus on Youth
Ukraine’s intelligence service notes that a key area of activity for these structures is engagement with young people through educational programs, language courses, and cultural events. New centers are reportedly planned in several African countries, including Nigeria, Mali, Senegal, Liberia, and Mozambique.
Another area of focus is preparing young Africans to move to Russia as labor migrants or students by promoting an image of a “prosperous Russia” and teaching the Russian language.
According to HUR, however, the reality often differs sharply from that portrayal. The agency claims that for some Africans, including students, travel to Russia can end with signing contracts with Russian occupation forces and being deployed to combat units participating in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Building Ideological Influence
The Kremlin’s ultimate goal, according to Ukrainian intelligence, is to cultivate a generation of ideologically loyal Africans who will not question Russia’s activities in their countries.
In this context, Moscow seeks a long-term presence in Africa, which critics describe as a mechanism for resource extraction. This includes the large-scale exploitation of natural resources, potentially resulting in significant economic and environmental consequences for future generations.
As an example, HUR points to Sudan, where groups allegedly linked to Russian influence have been associated with environmental problems, including mercury contamination of water resources caused by artisanal gold mining.
“Local populations in this scheme are viewed solely as a source of cheap labor — both for Russian-operated enterprises within African countries and for production facilities in Russia itself, where Africans arrive after undergoing ‘training’ in Russian Houses.
The Kremlin’s promises of development and partnership, as well as information campaigns targeting African populations through the Russian House system, are elements of a cover for what amounts to classic colonial exploitation and plunder in Africa,” the intelligence agency stated.
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