Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate has confirmed that two Nigerian nationals, Hamzat Kazeen Kolawole (born 3 April 1983) and Mbah Stephen Udoka (born 7 January 1988), were killed while serving in the Russian military in the Luhansk region.
The men died in late November during an attempted assault on Ukrainian positions.
According to Ukrainian authorities, both men were assigned to the 423rd Guards Motor Rifle Regiment of the 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Tank Division of the Russian Armed Forces.
Kolawole signed his contract on 29 August 2025, while Udoka signed on 28 September 2025.
The intelligence report indicates that Udoka had received no prior military training before being deployed just five days after signing his contract.
Kolawole’s training records are missing, though officials believe he was also inadequately prepared. Kolawole leaves behind a wife and three children in Nigeria.
“Both Nigerians were eliminated by a drone strike and never engaged in a firefight,” the statement added, warning foreign nationals against accepting employment in Russia under military pretenses.
Reports from international media suggest that some Africans were recruited under the guise of security or private-sector jobs, only to be deployed to front-line positions in Ukraine with minimal training.
Russia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Andrey Podyolyshev, denied government involvement, stating there is no official program to recruit Nigerians for combat in Ukraine.
The deaths of Kolawole and Udoka highlight concerns about the role of foreign nationals in the ongoing Ukraine conflict, many of whom face high-risk operations with insufficient preparation.
Analysts said such incidents raise broader questions about accountability and the growing use of mercenary forces in modern warfare.
