Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) has reported the death of another Nigerian citizen, Ayebusiwa Olabode Victor, who was killed while fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kharkiv region. The intelligence agency identified the 34-year-old as a resident of Ilutitun in Ondo State, Nigeria, and stated that he was eliminated near the settlement of Hrafske during combat operations involving Ukrainian troops.
According to HUR, Victor signed a mercenary contract with the Russian Ministry of Defence in late February 2026. This occurred just one week after Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had officially expressed serious concern over the illegal recruitment of its citizens for participation in foreign armed conflicts. The Nigerian government’s warning was prompted by the discovery of the bodies of two other Nigerian nationals in the Luhansk region earlier in February, who were also fighting on Russia’s side and had been killed by a drone strike.
HUR described Victor’s story as “typical” for those recruited from African countries, involving “deception, promises of ‘easy money,’ a week of training, deployment to the front, and a quick death.” The intelligence agency alleged that recruitment networks target African nationals through fake job advertisements on social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp. Potential recruits are promised legal employment, issued visas, and provided with one-way tickets to Russia. Upon arrival in Moscow, an intermediary confiscates their passports under the pretext of processing documents and places them in hostels. Within days, they discover that no job exists, their visas have been canceled, and they have no means to return home. They are then presented with a choice: deportation with debts, imprisonment, or signing a contract with the Russian army, the contents of which they often do not understand due to the language barrier.
HUR stated that at least 215 Nigerians have signed contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defence, and at least 25 have been killed or are considered missing in action. The agency urged Nigerian citizens to resist recruitment attempts and to contact the “I Want to Live” project for advice. The Nigerian government has repeatedly cautioned its citizens against involvement in foreign armed conflicts, stressing that Nigeria is not a party to the Russia-Ukraine war.
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