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Nigerian Fighter Serving in Russian Army Killed in Kharkiv Region, Ukraine’s HUR Reports
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Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) reported that another Nigerian national serving in the Russian army was killed near the village of Hrafske in the Kharkiv region.
According to HUR, the individual was identified as 34-year-old Ayebusiwa Olabode Victor, a resident of Ilutitun in Nigeria’s Ondo State.
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Ukrainian intelligence stated that Victor signed a contract with Russia’s Defense Ministry in late February 2026, just two weeks after Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry officially expressed concern over the illegal recruitment of its citizens for participation in foreign armed conflicts.
The Nigerian government’s statement followed an earlier incident on February 12, when Ukrainian intelligence discovered the bodies of two Nigerian nationals in Luhansk region who had been fighting on Russia’s side.
According to HUR, the two men were killed during an attempted assault on Ukrainian positions and “never entered a firefight, as they were eliminated by a drone strike.”
Despite these incidents, Russian Ambassador to Nigeria Andrey Podyolyshev denied any Kremlin involvement in recruiting Nigerian citizens for the war.
HUR said at least 215 Nigerians are currently known to have signed contracts with Russia’s Defense Ministry. Of those, at least 25 have either been killed or are considered missing in action.
The case reflects a broader pattern of foreign recruitment by Russia across Africa. Earlier this year, Ukrainian intelligence reported the deaths of several Kenyan nationals who had also been recruited to fight against Ukraine.
In February, HUR said the bodies of two Kenyan citizens—Ombwori Denis Bagaka, born in 1987, and Wahome Simon Gititu, born in 1991—were discovered near the city of Lyman in Donetsk region. Their remains were found close to the body of another Kenyan fighter, Clinton Nyapara Mogesa, whose death had previously been confirmed by Ukrainian intelligence.
According to HUR, the three men had originally worked for private security companies in Qatar before allegedly being persuaded by Russian recruiters with promises of higher salaries and rapid earnings for joining Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine.
Ukrainian intelligence stated that Bagaka and Mogesa arrived in Russia in September 2025 and registered at a contract recruitment center in Yaroslavl, while Gititu joined them a month later.
HUR also claimed that a Kyrgyz national, identified as Salizhan Uulu Almambet, acted as an intermediary for the recruits by signing military contracts on their behalf and managing their bank accounts.
As of May 25, Russia has recruited at least 2,965 citizens from 36 African countries to take part in the war against Ukraine within the ranks of the Russian military.
According to Liubov Abravitova, head of the Department of Africa and Regional African Organizations at Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, the experts believe the real number may be significantly higher. She noted that the main African countries from which recruits are being drawn include Kenya, Egypt, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, and Uganda.
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