By Charles Maduka
Ukraine has announced that it discovered the bodies of two Nigerians in the Luhansk region who were allegedly fighting alongside Russian forces in the ongoing war.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Ukrainian defence intelligence said its operatives identified the deceased as 42-year-old Hamzat Kazeen Kolawole and 38-year-old Mbah Stephen Udoka.
According to the statement, both men were said to have served in the 423rd Guards Motor Rifle Regiment of the 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Tank Division of the Russian armed forces.
Ukrainian authorities stated that Kolawole and Udoka signed contracts with the Russian Army in the latter part of 2025, with Kolawole reportedly enlisting on August 29 and Udoka on September 28.
Udoka was allegedly deployed without prior military training, having been posted on October 3, just five days after signing his contract. He was said to have been assigned to a unit and sent to territories described as temporarily occupied areas of Ukraine.
The statement added that there were no available training records for Kolawole, although Ukrainian intelligence suggested it was highly probable that he also did not undergo formal military training. It noted that Kolawole is survived by his wife and three children in Nigeria.
Ukrainian authorities said the two Nigerians were killed in late November during a drone strike while attempting to carry out a raid on Ukrainian positions in the Luhansk region.
Ukraine’s defence intelligence warned foreign nationals against travelling to Russia or accepting employment within the country, describing such decisions as carrying the risk of being conscripted into high-risk assault units.
The agency cautioned that travelling to Russia could result in being deployed to the frontline under dangerous conditions.
Last week, a CNN investigation reported that individuals from Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda were allegedly enticed to Russia with promises of civilian employment, including roles as drivers and security personnel.
The report claimed that upon arrival, some were compelled to join the military and deployed to combat zones with minimal training.
On Tuesday, the Russian ambassador to Nigeria, Andrey Podyelyshev, rejected the allegations and denied any official involvement by the Kremlin in such recruitment activities.
TheCable said it contacted the Russian embassy in Abuja for comments regarding the latest development.
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