LUHANSK — Ukrainian military intelligence has confirmed the discovery of the bodies of two Nigerian nationals in the Luhansk region, identifying them as Hamzat Kazeen Kolawole, 42, and Mbah Stephen Udoka, 38.
The men were reportedly killed in late November 2025 by a drone strike during an attempt to storm Ukrainian positions. According to Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence (DIU), both served in the 423rd Guards Motor Rifle Regiment of Russia’s 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Tank Division.
Deceptive Recruitment and Lack of Training
The disclosure has intensified concerns regarding the “deceptive” recruitment of African nationals into the Russian military.
- The “Security Job” Lure: Reports suggest many recruits are lured to Russia with promises of lucrative civilian roles—such as drivers or security guards—only to be forced into frontline combat upon arrival.
- Immediate Deployment: Documents indicate Udoka signed his contract on September 28, 2025, and was assigned to a combat unit just five days later on October 3, having received no military training.
- Family Impact: Kolawole, who signed his contract on August 29, 2025, is survived by a wife and three children in Nigeria.
Diplomatic Denials and Regional Alarm
The Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Andrey Podyelyshev, has denied the existence of any state-backed programme to recruit Nigerians for the war, attributing such activities to “illegal actors”.
However, the discovery follows earlier reports from February 5, 2026, which identified four other Nigerians—Adam Anas, Akinlawon Tunde Quyuum, Abugu Stanley Onyeka, and Balogun Ridwan Adisa—who were also reportedly killed on the battlefield after being deceived by recruitment agents.
The Ukrainian government has issued a stern warning to foreign nationals, stating that travel to Russia carries a “real risk” of being forced into “suicide” assault units.
