Ukraine has announced the recovery of the bodies of two Nigerian nationals in the Luhansk region, alleging that the men were fighting on the side of Russia in the protracted conflict between both countries.
In a statement released on yesterday, Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence of Ukraine identified the deceased as Hamzat Kazeen Kolawole, aged 42, and Mbah Stephen Udoka, 38.
According to the intelligence agency, both men were enlisted in the 423rd Guards Motor Rifle Regiment, military unit 91701, under the 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Tank Division of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
“Both served in the 423rd Guards Motor Rifle Regiment of the 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Tank Division of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation,” the statement said.
The report disclosed that the Nigerians signed enlistment contracts with the Russian Army in the latter half of 2025, Kolawole on August 29 and Udoka on September 28. Udoka was reportedly deployed on October 3, just five days after signing his contract, despite having no prior military training.
“Udoka had no documented military training before his deployment,” the statement noted, adding that no training records were found for Kolawole either, suggesting he may also have been sent to the frontlines without adequate preparation. It further stated that Kolawole is survived by his wife and three children in Nigeria.
Ukrainian intelligence said both men were killed in late November during a drone strike while allegedly attempting to carry out a raid on Ukrainian positions in the Luhansk region.
“Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence warns foreign citizens against travelling to the Russian Federation or accepting any form of employment on the territory of the aggressor state,” the statement cautioned.
It added that such trips carry a “real risk of being forced into so-called ‘suicide’ assault units and ultimately dying on Ukrainian soil.”
The development comes days after a report by CNN alleged that several Africans, including nationals of Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda, were recruited to Russia under the pretence of civilian jobs such as drivers or security guards, only to be coerced into military service upon arrival and deployed to combat zones with minimal training.
However, the Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Andrey Podyelyshev, on Tuesday rejected the allegations, distancing the Kremlin from claims of deceptive recruitment and forced enlistment of foreign nationals.
