Two men claiming to be Russian nationals have appeared in a video released by an extremist group, alleging that they were taken captive in Niger by militants linked to al-Qaida. The video, posted on the az-Zallaqa platform, shows the men seated side by side in traditional local attire, with one identifying himself as Yury, a geologist working for a Russian company in Baga, northeastern Niger. The other man, whose name was less clear, mentioned being in Niger for a month.
The authenticity and date of the video remain unverified, and the exact timing of their capture was not disclosed. If confirmed, these men would be the first Russians in the Sahel region believed to be kidnapped by jihadis, despite Russia's increasing presence in the area.
