Ukrainian military intelligence operatives have discovered the bodies of two Nigerian citizens who were killed while serving in the Russian armed forces during an assault on Ukrainian positions in the Luhansk region.
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The deceased have been identified as Hamzat Kazeen Kolawole (born April 3, 1983) and Mbah Stephen Udoka (born January 7, 1988). Both men served in the 423rd Guards Motor Rifle Regiment (military unit 91701) of the 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Tank Division of the Russian Federation armed forces.
According to Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, both Nigerians signed contracts with the Russian army in the second half of 2025. Kolawole signed his contract on August 29, while Udoka signed on September 28.
The intelligence report reveals a disturbing lack of military preparation. Udoka received no training whatsoever — just five days after signing his contract, on October 3, he was assigned to the unit and immediately sent to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
No training records for Kolawole have been preserved; however, Ukrainian intelligence considers it highly likely that he also received no military training before being deployed to combat zones.
Kolawole leaves behind a wife and three children in Nigeria. The report did not provide details about Udoka’s family situation.
Both Nigerians were killed in late November 2025 during an attempt to storm Ukrainian positions in the Luhansk region. According to the intelligence report, they never had the opportunity to engage in a firefight — the mercenaries were eliminated by a drone strike before reaching Ukrainian defensive positions.
The use of the term “meat assault” in the intelligence report refers to a Russian military tactic that involves sending waves of poorly trained soldiers in human wave attacks designed to overwhelm defenses through sheer numbers, often resulting in massive casualties.
Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence has indicated that the number of identified dead Russian mercenaries from Africa is rising, suggesting a broader pattern of recruitment from African nations.
The presence of Nigerian and other African nationals fighting for Russia highlights the Kremlin’s increasingly desperate efforts to bolster its military manpower amid heavy losses in Ukraine.
In light of these developments, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence has issued a stark warning to foreign citizens against traveling to the Russian Federation or taking up any work on the territory of the aggressor state.
“A trip to Russia is a real risk of being forced into a ‘suicide’ assault unit and, ultimately, rotting in Ukrainian soil,” the intelligence agency warned.
The deaths of Kolawole and Udoka raise serious questions about how Russian military recruiters are operating in Nigeria and other African countries, and what promises or inducements are being made to attract foreign nationals to serve in a conflict thousands of miles from their homes.
Bodies Of Two Nigerian Citizens In Luhansk Fighting For RussiaThe Nigerian government has not yet issued an official statement regarding the deaths of its citizens in the Russian military or about Russian recruitment activities within Nigeria.
The use of African mercenaries by Russia in its war against Ukraine has drawn international attention and concern.
The case of Udoka, who was sent to combat just five days after signing his contract with no training, appears to violate basic standards of military preparation and could constitute a form of exploitation or even human trafficking.
Military analysts note that Russia’s recruitment of foreign nationals, including from Africa, India, Nepal, and other regions, reflects the severe manpower challenges facing the Russian military after nearly three years of intensive combat operations in Ukraine.
The heavy casualties sustained by Russian forces have forced the Kremlin to look beyond its traditional recruitment base, offering lucrative contracts to foreigners willing to serve in what are often described as the most dangerous assault units.
Human rights advocates are calling on the Nigerian government and other African nations to:
- Investigate Russian military recruitment activities within their territories
- Warn citizens about the dangers of accepting contracts with the Russian military
- Work with international partners to prevent the exploitation of African nationals
- Seek the repatriation of remains of deceased citizens
- Provide support to families of those killed
As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the deaths of Kolawole and Udoka serve as a tragic reminder of how the war’s impact extends far beyond Europe, claiming lives from across the globe.
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