In a statement issued over the weekend, the embassy said the claims were baseless, explaining that Mr. Lyapin was only escorted to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Nairobi to provide information about his business activities in Kenya. After completing the necessary procedures, he left the country on the evening of September 26, 2025, as scheduled.

The Russian ambassador added that diplomatic and civil assistance had been provided to Lyapin and insisted that none of his rights had been violated. The embassy also clarified  that Lyapin had never worked for the Russian government or the Russian Embassy in Nairobi.

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Kenyan media outlets had reported that Lyapin was arrested on Thursday evening after police found 22 Kenyans in Nairobi accommodations allegedly preparing to travel to Moscow to fight on Russia’s side in its war with Ukraine, which began in February 2022.

According to the BBC, which  reported the story, police seized recruitment materials, travel documents and employment letters during the operation and detained the Russian national.

Meanwhile, Kenyan authorities have detained Edward Kamau Gituku, a Kenyan accused of running an international human trafficking network allegedly responsible for sending Kenyans to Russia. On Friday, the Kahawa Law Courts ordered that he remain in custody at Muthaiga Police Station after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) sought an extension of his detention to complete investigations.

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Investigators suspect that Gituku heads a trafficking network that sends Kenyans to Moscow, where they reportedly face abuse and are taken to the battlefield.

This is not the first time Russia has faced accusations of recruiting people from abroad to fight in Ukraine.  Analysts warn that many recruits may be unaware of the true nature of the missions until they find themselves on the frontlines. Moscow has yet to issue a detailed response to the latest allegations.