By Stephen Simon
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency has identified another Nigerian national allegedly killed while fighting for Russia in the ongoing war with Ukraine.
In a statement issued on May 28, 2026, the Ukrainian Military Intelligence (HUR) said the deceased was identified as Ayebusiwa Olabode Victor, said to be from Ilutitun in .
According to Ukrainian authorities, Victor was reportedly killed during active combat operations in the volatile Kharkiv region.
The latest disclosure comes amid growing international scrutiny over allegations that Russia has been recruiting African nationals for the war, with intelligence officials warning that vulnerable foreigners are increasingly being drawn into dangerous frontline operations.
Ukrainian intelligence claimed that documents recovered from the battlefield, including personal identification papers and contract details, indicated that the Nigerian was fighting on the Russian side and had allegedly been deployed to a high-risk combat zone with minimal military preparation.
The agency described Victor’s death as part of a broader pattern involving foreign nationals allegedly recruited into the conflict through deceptive promises of jobs and educational opportunities in Russia.
“HUR explicitly noted that for hundreds of unsuspecting foreign nationals, the deceptive promises of lucrative employment or academic advancements in the Russian Federation have effectively transformed into a one-way ticket to the battlefield,” the statement said.
According to Ukrainian authorities, Victor signed a military contract in late February, barely one week after Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned citizens against illegal recruitment into foreign armed conflicts.
The ministry had earlier raised concerns over reports that Nigerians were allegedly being lured abroad under false pretences and later forced into combat-related roles.
Before the latest incident, Ukrainian authorities had also announced the discovery of the bodies of two Nigerians in the Luhansk region, alleging they were fighting for Russian forces in the ongoing war.
Russia, however, has repeatedly denied allegations of covertly recruiting Nigerians and other Africans for the conflict, describing the claims as unfounded.
Despite the denials, Ukrainian intelligence insisted that recruitment operations targeting Africans were ongoing.
According to the statement, Russian pro-war propagandist Mikhail Zvinchuk allegedly admitted during a television appearance hosted by Kremlin ally Vladimir Solovyov that African nationals were being targeted through fake job advertisements circulated on social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp.
The statement alleged that victims were promised employment opportunities, issued visas, and flown to Russia, only to discover upon arrival that the jobs did not exist.
It further claimed that many allegedly had their passports confiscated and were pressured into signing military contracts after being threatened with deportation, imprisonment, or debt.
Ukrainian authorities further alleged that at least 215 Nigerians had signed contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defence, with no fewer than 25 reportedly killed or declared missing in action.
The war between and has continued to attract global concern, particularly over claims involving the recruitment of foreign nationals into combat operations.
