Ablakawa said the casualty figures were “not just numbers, they represent human lives, the hope of many Ghanaian families and our nation”.

He said the Ghanaian government was committed to “tracking and dismantling all dark web illegal recruitment schemes” as well as launching intensive public awareness campaigns to prevent the country’s youth from being drawn into the conflict.

“This is not our war and we cannot allow our youth to become human shields for others,” he added.

On Thursday, a Kenyan national was charged over accusations he had lured young men to Russia with job opportunities, only for them to end up fighting in Ukraine. Festus Arasa Omwamba denied the charges.

A total of 1,000 Kenyans have been recruited to fight for Russia in its four-year war against Ukraine, said a report from Kenya’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), released last week.

Russia’s embassy in Kenya has denied accusations that it was involved in recruiting people to fight in the war.

However, it said that Russian law allowed foreign nationals who are legally in the country to voluntarily enlist in the armed forces.

On Wednesday, Ghana’s foreign minister urged President Volodymyr Zelensky to release two Ghanaian prisoners of war captured fighting for Russia.

“They are victims of manipulation, of disinformation, misinformation, of criminal trafficking networks,” he said.

He thanked Ukraine for ensuring international law was respected in the handling of the detainees.

“We have received reports that they are in good health,” he said. “They have not been tortured. They have not suffered any inhumane treatment since they were captured.”

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said both sides discussed “frankly” about the possibility of returning the prisoners to Ghana.

South Africa on Thursday said that two of its citizens had been killed in Ukraine, while another 15 had been repatriated over the past week. Two more remain in Russia getting treatment for “very severe” injuries, said Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola.

Ukrainian officials have repeatedly warned that anyone fighting for Russia would be treated as an enemy combatant, and that the only safe route out was to surrender and be treated as a prisoner of war.

Ukraine has also previously come in for criticism for trying to recruit foreign nationals, including Africans, to fight on its side.