Ukrainian authorities have announced the death of another Nigerian national, Ayebusiwa Olabode Victor, who was reportedly fighting alongside Russian troops in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate and the Ukrainian National News Agency, Ukrinform, disclosed on Thursday that Victor, an indigene of Ilutitun in Ondo State, was killed during combat operations in the Kharkiv region near the settlement of Hrafske.
According to the report, the 33-year-old Nigerian, born on April 28, 1992, allegedly signed a mercenary contract with the Russian military in February 2026, despite repeated warnings by the Nigerian government against involvement in foreign conflicts.
The Ukrainian intelligence agency alleged that many foreign recruits, especially Africans, were being enticed with promises of lucrative jobs and quick financial rewards before being deployed to the battlefield after minimal military training.
“Their story is typical deception, promises of easy money, a week of training, deployment to the front, and a quick death,” the agency stated.
The authorities further claimed that recruitment syndicates target African nationals, particularly Nigerians, through social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp.
According to the report, recruits are allegedly provided with visas and one-way flight tickets to Moscow, only to have their international passports confiscated on arrival.
The agency alleged that the recruits are thereafter faced with the options of deportation with debt obligations, imprisonment, or enlistment into the Russian army.
Ukrainian officials claimed that no fewer than 215 Nigerians had signed contracts with Russia’s Ministry of Defence, while about 25 were either confirmed dead or declared missing in action.
The latest development has heightened concerns over the growing involvement of African nationals in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The Nigerian government has consistently warned citizens against participating in the war, stressing that Nigeria is not a party to the conflict and cautioning against the legal and security risks associated with such involvement.
Ukrainian authorities also urged Nigerians to resist recruitment attempts and report suspicious activities linked to foreign military enlistment networks.
