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By Goli Innocent
Ukrainian authorities have identified two Nigerian nationals allegedly killed while fighting on Russia’s side in the ongoing war, now in its fourth year.
In a statement, Ukraine said military intelligence operatives recovered and identified the bodies of Hamzat Kazeen Kolawole, 42, and Mbah Stephen Udoka, 38, in the Luhansk region.
According to Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence, both men 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.
The agency said Kolawole signed a contract with the Russian Army on August 29, 2025, while Udoka reportedly enlisted on September 28, 2025.
Udoka was said to have been deployed on October 3, just five days after signing, despite having no prior military training.
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“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.
Ukrainian officials said both men were killed in late November during a drone strike while attempting to raid Ukrainian positions in the Luhansk region.
Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence warned foreign nationals against travelling to Russia or accepting job offers within the country, alleging that some recruits risk being forced into assault units with little preparation.
The development follows a recent CNN investigation which reported that some Africans from Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda were lured to Russia with promises of civilian jobs such as drivers or security guards, only to be compelled into military service upon arrival.
Reacting earlier in the week, the Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Andrey Podyelyshev, dismissed reports of any state-backed recruitment drive targeting Nigerians and other Africans, distancing the Kremlin from the allegations.
