Two Nigerian citizens have been confirmed dead while fighting for the Russian military in the ongoing war with Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate disclosed this on Thursday, stating that the men were killed during a drone strike in the Luhansk region.
The victims were identified as Hamzat Kazeen Kolawole, born April 3, 1983, and Mbah Stephen Udoka, born January 7, 1988.
Ukraine Intelligence Speaks
In a statement titled “Nigerians in a meat assault — the number of identified dead Russian mercenaries from Africa is rising,” Ukraine’s defence intelligence said both men died in late November while attempting to attack Ukrainian positions.
According to the agency, the Nigerians were part of the 423rd Guards Motor Rifle Regiment (military unit 91701), under the 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Tank Division of the Russian armed forces.
“They never engaged in a firefight — the mercenaries were eliminated by a drone strike,” the statement said.
Contracts Signed in 2025
Ukraine’s intelligence revealed that both men signed contracts with the Russian army in the second half of 2025.
Kolawole reportedly enlisted on August 29, 2025, while Udoka signed his contract on September 28, 2025.
The agency alleged that Udoka “received no training whatsoever” before he was deployed to occupied Ukrainian territory just five days after signing up.
It also claimed that there were no available training records for Kolawole, adding that it was “highly likely that he also received no military training.”
Killed in Luhansk Region
The two Nigerians were said to have been killed during an operation aimed at storming Ukrainian defensive positions in the Luhansk region.
Ukraine’s intelligence maintained that the men were struck by a drone before any direct exchange of gunfire could take place.
Photos of the deceased, including copies of their documents, were released alongside the statement.
Kolawole is reported to have left behind a wife and three children in Nigeria.
Warning to Foreign Nationals
Following the incident, Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence issued a strong warning to foreign nationals considering travelling to Russia for work.
“A trip to Russia is a real risk of being forced into a ‘suicide’ assault unit and, ultimately, rotting in Ukrainian soil,” the statement cautioned.
The agency claimed that the number of African nationals fighting and dying for Russia is increasing.
Russia Denies Official Recruitment
The development comes amid previous reports alleging that some Nigerians and other Africans were lured to Russia with promises of security-related jobs, only to be sent to the battlefield after brief training.
However, the Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Andrey Podyolyshev, denied any official state-backed recruitment of Nigerians for the war.
“There is no government-supported programme to recruit Nigerians to fight in Ukraine. If there are illegal organisations or individuals trying to recruit Nigerians by unlawful means, this is not connected with the Russian state,” he said.
The war between Russia and Ukraine, which began in 2022, continues to draw international attention, with foreign nationals reportedly involved on both sides of the conflict.
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