Russia is quietly expanding a network of cultural and educational centers across Africa known as “Russian Houses” as part of its long-term influence campaign, according to Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR). HUR said the campaign aims to target young Africans with pro-Russian messaging while simultaneously recruiting laborers and students to move to Russia.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The agency suggests in its Tuesday press release that the Kremlin’s strategy in Africa extends far beyond weapons deliveries and military support for friendly regimes. Expanding network of “Russian Houses” According to HUR, Russia plans to open so-called “Russian Houses” in at least eight African countries, including Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo, Mozambique, Mali, Senegal, Liberia and Sao Tome and Principe. The initiative is being coordinated through Rossotrudnichestvo, a Russian government agency responsible for cultural diplomacy abroad, in cooperation with the Center for People’s Diplomacy, an organization established in 2024 to expand Russia’s presence across Africa. HUR said the group is headed by Dmitry Savelyev, a Russian lawmaker from Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ruling United Russia party, and includes several senior officials responsible for educational and outreach programs across the continent. The project involving “Russian Houses” in Africa is coordinated by a steering committee, HUR added: Natalia Krasovskaya — executive director; as a co-founder, she also heads the “Consortium of Russian Universities for Cooperation with African Countries” Leonid Isaev — advisor to the executive director, responsible for organizing delegation visits to Africa; Research Fellow at the Institute of African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences Valeria Manovitskaya — deputy executive director, head of the Department of Educational Projects, and coordinator of “Rossotrudnichestvo” and “Russian Houses” in Africa “The primary target audience is young people,” HUR said.