Ukraine has announced the discovery of the bodies of two Nigerians in its Luhansk region who were allegedly fighting on Russia’s side in the ongoing four-year war.
This is coming amidst denial by the Russian authorities of conscripting any Nigeria or African nationals to execute its war with Ukraine.
But the Ukrainian authorities in a statement on Thursday said military intelligence operatives identified the two men as Hamzat Kazeen Kolawole, 42, and Mbah Stephen Udoka, 38.
“Both served in the 423rd Guards Motor Rifle Regiment (military unit 91701) of the 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Tank Division of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation,” Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence said.
According to the statement, Kolawole and Udoka signed contracts with the Russian Army in the second half of 2025 — Kolawole on August 29 and Udoka on September 28.Udoka reportedly had no military training prior to his posting on October 3, five days after signing his contract. He was allegedly assigned to a unit and sent to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
“No training records for Kolawole have been preserved; however, it is highly likely that he also received no military training. His wife and three children remain in Nigeria,” the statement added.
The report noted that both Nigerians were killed in late November by a drone strike during an attempt to raid Ukrainian positions in the Luhansk region.
“Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence warns foreign citizens against travelling to the Russian Federation or taking up any work on the territory of the aggressor state,” the statement said. It added that a trip to Russia carries a “real risk of being forced into a ‘suicide’ assault unit and, ultimately, rotting in Ukrainian soil.”
Last week, a CNN investigation disclosed that Africans from Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda were reportedly lured to Russia under the guise of civilian job offers, such as drivers or security guards. Upon arrival, they were allegedly forced into military service with minimal training before being deployed to the frontline.
The Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Andrey Podyelyshev, on Tuesday, dismissed the reports and distanced the Kremlin from the alleged recruitment programmes.
