Ukrainian military intelligence has announced the recovery of the bodies of two Nigerian men in the Luhansk region, asserting that they were serving in Russian military units during the ongoing war, now in its fourth year.
The deceased were identified as Hamzat Kazeen Kolawole, 42, and Mbah Stephen Udoka, 38.
According to the statement released on Thursday, Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence operatives located the remains following engagements in the area.
Both individuals were said to have been members of the 423rd Guards Motor Rifle Regiment, designated as military unit 91701, under the 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Tank Division of the Russian armed forces.
“Both 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,” Ukraine’s defence intelligence stated.
The report indicated that the two Nigerians signed contracts to join the Russian military in the second half of 2025 — Kolawole on August 29 and Udoka on September 28.
They were then deployed to territories under temporary Russian occupation in Ukraine.
Udoka reportedly received no military training before his rapid deployment, with assignment to a combat unit occurring on October 3, only five days after he signed his contract.
“Udoka was reportedly without any training prior to his posting on October 3, five days after his contract signing,” the statement read.
“He was allegedly assigned to a unit and sent to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.”
In Kolawole’s case, no records of any training were found, and Ukrainian officials assessed it as highly probable that he also received none.
“No training records for Kolawole have been preserved; however, it is highly likely that he also received no military training,” the intelligence added.
The statement further noted that Kolawole leaves behind a wife and three children who are still living in Nigeria.
Both men were reportedly killed in late November 2025 by a Ukrainian drone strike while attempting to assault Ukrainian positions in the Luhansk region.
“Both Nigerians were killed in late November by a drone strike during an attempt to raid Ukrainian positions in the Luhansk region,” Ukraine’s defence intelligence confirmed.
The agency used the incident to issue a stern warning to foreign nationals, strongly advising against traveling to Russia or accepting any form of employment on Russian soil.
“Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence warns foreign citizens against travelling to the russian federation or taking up any work on the territory of the aggressor state,” it declared.
It described the risks in stark terms, suggesting that such trips could lead to forced conscription into extremely dangerous combat roles.
“a trip to Russia is a ‘real risk of being forced into a ‘suicide’ assault unit and, ultimately, rotting in Ukrainian soil’,” the authority cautioned.
This development comes after a CNN investigation published last week revealed allegations that citizens from several African countries—including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda—were deceived with offers of civilian jobs such as drivers or security personnel.
Upon arrival in Russia, many were reportedly coerced into military service, provided minimal training, and sent directly to frontline combat zones.
On Tuesday, Russian Ambassador to Nigeria Andrey Podyelyshev publicly rejected the claims, denying any official Kremlin involvement in recruiting foreign fighters through such deceptive means.
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