A Nigerian national fighting on the side of Russian forces in Ukraine has been captured by the Freedom of Russia Legion, a group of Russian fighters aligned with Ukraine. The individual, identified as 29-year-old Kehinde Oluwagbemileke, was taken prisoner in the Zaporizhzhia region, according to a report by Ukraine’s “I Want to Live” project.
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The organisation, which assists Russian soldiers and foreign fighters in surrendering, stated that Kehinde had been living in Russia for four years and was involved in drug-related offences before being arrested. Rather than serve time under Article 228 of the Russian Criminal Code, he reportedly accepted a deal to fight in Russia’s so-called “special military operation” in exchange for a reduced sentence.
“Kehinde is one of thousands of mercenaries from third countries recruited by Russia’s Defense Ministry to fight in Ukraine,” the project said. “He fought for five months before being captured.”
The report further stated that foreign nationals recruited by Russia are often misled about the risks and conditions they will face. “They are treated as expendable manpower,” the organisation said, calling on governments to act against the recruitment of their citizens by the Russian military.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a warning to foreign nationals considering joining Russian forces. “We urge all foreigners to avoid joining the ranks of the Russian occupation army by any means,” a ministry representative said, encouraging potential recruits to instead contact the “I Want to Live” project.
Oluwagbemileke’s case adds to growing reports of foreign nationals captured on the battlefield while serving in Russia’s military.
Earlier this year, two Chinese nationals were taken prisoner by Ukrainian forces and shared similar accounts of coercion and disillusionment.
The Guardian using AI transcribed the video shared by the legion and the conversation below was produced:
[Transcript Begins]
Interviewer: Our stormtroopers have returned from a mission with an unusual trophy—Kehinde Oluwagbemileke. Apparently, due to a shortage of cannon fodder, Putin’s commanders are luring foreigners by deception to “defend the Motherland” in far-off Ukraine.
Interrogator: What is your passport?
Kehinde: Russian.
Interrogator: Russian passport?
Kehinde: Yes, Russian passport.
Interrogator: What did you do before?
Kehinde: Before?
Interrogator: Before joining the SVO. You joined the SVO?
Kehinde: Yes.
Interrogator: Why did you go to war?
Kehinde: For quick liberation.
Interrogator: Were you in prison?
Kehinde: Yes, in prison.
Interrogator: And then they freed you?
Kehinde: Yes.
Interrogator: How long have you been in the army?
Kehinde: Five months.
Interrogator: Five months? Where is your family?
Kehinde: In Nigeria.
Interrogator: In Nigeria? Does your family know you went to war?
Kehinde: No.
Interrogator: They don’t know? Do you regret it?
Kehinde: Of course.
Interrogator: Do you regret going?
Kehinde: Of course. It’s… broken. [points to wounds]
Interrogator: Broken. Most of them are 200s.
Kehinde: Yes, yes.
Interrogator: How many 200s do you have? How many from your unit are alive? How many died?
Kehinde: Well, we were four. We went. One 200, the rest 300.
Interrogator: One 200, the rest 300. Lucky to be alive.
Kehinde: Lucky I’m alive.
Interrogator: You are lucky, yes. What did you do before that?
Kehinde: Translator.
Interrogator: Translator?
Kehinde: Yes. English to Russian.
Interrogator: Who did you translate for?
Kehinde: For those who don’t speak Russian.
Interrogator: In Russian?
Kehinde: Yes. There are people from South America, Africans, and Chinese.
Interrogator: Many Chinese?
Kehinde: Well, there were five or six of them there.
Interrogator: And Africans?
Kehinde: Africans, four people. With me, five—Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon.
Interrogator: Did you come to study? Why Russia? You had nowhere else to go?
Kehinde: An adventure.
Interrogator: An adventure?
Medic: We’re going to inject you. This is an antibiotic, so your wounds don’t fester. Don’t flinch.
Kehinde: Oh. You’re so delicate everywhere. That’s good.
Medic: This is for the wounds.
Kehinde: Thank you. Thank you again. I am very grateful to the Freedom of Russia Legion for saving my life and providing assistance, as you can see. And thank you. Thank you again.
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