Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence has confirmed the recovery of the bodies of two Nigerian nationals who were reportedly fighting on the Russian side of the war in eastern Ukraine.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Ukrainian Defence Intelligence said its operatives discovered the bodies of Hamzat Kazeem Kolawole (born April 3, 1983) and Mbah Stephen Udoka (born January 7, 1988) in the Luhansk region.
According to the agency, both men joined the Russian Army in the second half of 2025, signing contracts with the 423rd Guards Motor Rifle Regiment of the 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Tank Division.
UDI alleged that Udoka received no formal military training and was deployed to the frontlines just five days after signing his contract. Records regarding Kolawole’s training were reportedly not preserved, though officials believe he also lacked adequate preparation.
The agency stated that the two men were killed in late November while attempting to advance on Ukrainian positions. It claimed they did not engage in a firefight but were struck by a drone attack.
Kolawole is said to have left behind a wife and three children in Nigeria.
Using the incident as a warning, Ukrainian Defence Intelligence cautioned foreign nationals about the risks of traveling to Russia amid the ongoing conflict, warning that individuals could be deployed into dangerous combat operations with fatal consequences.
The claims have not yet been independently verified, and Russian authorities have not publicly commented on the report.
