Two Nigerian nationals have been confirmed dead while fighting alongside the Russian military in the ongoing war with Ukraine.
The disclosure was made on Thursday by Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate, which stated that the men were killed in a drone strike in the Luhansk region.
The deceased were identified as Hamzat Kazeen Kolawole, born on April 3, 1983, and Mbah Stephen Udoka, born on 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 agency said the two men were killed in late November while attempting to advance on Ukrainian positions.
According to the agency, the two Nigerians were serving in the 423rd Guards Motor Rifle Regiment (military unit 91701), which operates 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 added.
Contracts Signed in 2025
Ukraine’s intelligence further disclosed that both men signed contracts with the Russian military in the second half of 2025.
Kolawole reportedly enlisted on August 29, 2025, while Udoka signed his contract a month later, on September 28, 2025.
Ukraine’s intelligence agency further alleged that Udoka “received no training whatsoever” before being deployed to occupied Ukrainian territory just five days after signing his contract.
It added that there were no available training records for Kolawole either, noting that it was “highly likely that he also received no military training.”
Killed in Luhansk Region
The two Nigerians were reportedly killed during an operation to storm Ukrainian defensive positions in the Luhansk region.
According to Ukraine’s intelligence, they were struck by a drone before any direct exchange of gunfire could occur. The agency also released photos of the deceased, including copies of their identification documents.
Kolawole is said to have left behind a wife and three children in Nigeria.
Warning to Foreign Nationals
In the aftermath of the incident, Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence issued a stern warning to foreign nationals considering travelling to Russia for work.
“A trip to Russia carries the real risk of being forced into a ‘suicide’ assault unit and ultimately ending up dead on Ukrainian soil,” the statement warned.
The agency further claimed that the number of African nationals fighting — and dying — for Russia is on the rise.
Russia Denies Official Recruitment
The development follows earlier reports alleging that some Nigerians and other Africans were lured to Russia with promises of security-related jobs, only to be deployed to the battlefield after minimal 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 organizations or individuals attempting to recruit Nigerians unlawfully, this is not connected to the Russian state,” he stated.
The war between Russia and Ukraine, which began in 2022, continues to command global attention, with foreign nationals reportedly involved on both sides of the conflict.
