Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence has confirmed the death of another Nigerian national who was killed while fighting alongside Russian forces.
The deceased has been identified as 34-year-old Ayebusiwa Olabode Victor, a native of Ilutitun in Ondo State.
To verify his identity, Ukrainian authorities shared a photograph of the front page of Victor’s Nigerian passport. Reports indicate he was killed in the Kharkiv region, specifically near the settlement of Hrafske.
According to Ukrainian officials, Victor signed a mercenary contract in late February.
Tragically, this occurred just one week after Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a stern warning to its citizens to avoid illegal recruitment into foreign military conflicts, noting a troubling trend of Nigerians being tricked into combat roles under false pretences.
This incident follows an earlier announcement by Ukraine regarding the discovery of two other Nigerian bodies in the Luhansk region, both of whom were also allegedly fighting for Russia in the ongoing four-year conflict.
While Moscow has consistently denied allegations of covertly recruiting Africans for the war, dismissing the claims as entirely unfounded, Ukraine argues otherwise.
Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence stated that “official Moscow propaganda tells a different story,” pointing to admissions made by Mikhail Zvinchuk, a pro-war “Z” propagandist with close ties to Russia’s Ministry of Defence.
According to the Ukrainian statement, Zvinchuk openly detailed the exact pipeline used to draw African citizens into the frontline.
The scheme allegedly begins with deceptive job advertisements posted on social media platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook. Intrigued applicants are issued visas, given one-way tickets, and promised employment in Russia.
However, upon arriving in Moscow, middlemen reportedly confiscate their passports under the pretext of document processing and place them in hostels. Within days, the recruits realize the promised jobs do not exist, their visas are canceled, and they are stranded without financial means.
According to the intelligence report, these individuals are then forced to choose between three harsh options: deportation while saddled with debt, imprisonment, or signing a military contract with the Russian army, a contract they often cannot comprehend due to language barriers.
Ukrainian authorities claim that at least 215 Nigerians have signed military contracts with Russia’s Ministry of Defence so far, with no fewer than 25 confirmed dead or missing in action.
Despite continued denials from Russian diplomats, Ukraine maintains that the number of Nigerian nationals serving within the ranks of the Russian military is steadily rising.
