Ukraine has announced the discovery of the bodies of two Nigerian nationals in the Luhansk region, alleging that the men were fighting on the side of Russia in the ongoing four-year war.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence agency said the men were identified as Hamzat Kazeen Kolawole, 42, and Mbah Stephen Udoka, 38.
According to the agency, both men 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.
The statement said Kolawole and Udoka signed contracts with the Russian Army in the second half of 2025 — Kolawole on August 29 and Udoka on September 28.
Udoka was reportedly deployed on October 3, just five days after signing his contract, and was assigned to a unit operating in what Ukraine described as temporarily occupied territories. The intelligence agency claimed he had no prior military training before his deployment.
“No training records for Kolawole have been preserved; however, it is highly likely that he also received no military training. His wife and three children remain in Nigeria,” the statement added.
The Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine has been a focal point of intense fighting since Russia’s invasion began in 2022. Ukrainian authorities did not provide further details on the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the two Nigerians.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official confirmation or response from Russian authorities or the Nigerian government regarding the claims.
