Defense Forces eliminate another mercenary from Nigeria

The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine released information about another Nigerian citizen who fought on the side of the Russian army and was killed in the Kharkiv region.

According to Ukrinform, the relevant information was published on the website of the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR).

"In combat with the Defense Forces of Ukraine in the Kharkiv region, near the settlement of Grafske, Ayebusiwa Olabode Victor, born on April 28, 1992, was eliminated. The mercenary lived in the town of Ilutitun, Ondo State," HUR reported.

"His story is typical for all those recruited: deception, promises of 'easy money,' a week of training, deployment to the front, and a quick death," the intelligence agency added.

According to HUR, it is noteworthy that Ayebusiwa Olabode Victor signed a contract at the end of February 2026 — just one week after, on February 15, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria officially expressed serious concern about cases of illegal recruitment of Nigerian citizens for participation in foreign armed conflicts.

This statement came after, on February 12, HUR informed the world about the fate of two Nigerian citizens — Hamzat Kazina Kalawole and Mbah Stephen Udoku.

Read also: Russia has recruited nearly 3,000 Africans from 36 countries to fight against Ukraine -- MFA

Russian Ambassador to Nigeria Andrey Podyolyshev cynically denied the Kremlin's involvement in illegal recruitment.

"However, official Moscow propaganda tells a different story. Mikhail Zvinchuk, a pro-war propagandist close to the Russian Ministry of Defense, publicly described the scheme for recruiting people to fight against Ukraine on the channel of one of the Kremlin's main mouthpieces, Vladimir Solovyov," HUR stated.

"He confirmed that residents of African countries are lured to Russia through fake job advertisements distributed on Facebook and WhatsApp," the intelligence agency added.

According to HUR, people are provided with a visa, a one-way ticket, and promised employment. Upon arriving in Moscow, they are met by an intermediary who confiscates their passport allegedly for paperwork processing and places them in a hostel. A few days later, they discover that no job exists, the visa has been canceled, and they have no money to return home.

"The person is then faced with a choice: deportation with debts, imprisonment, or a contract with the occupying army, the contents of which they often do not even understand because of the language barrier," HUR stated.

"Thus, Moscow, its diplomacy, and official propaganda have once again demonstrated complete disregard for the position of African governments and peoples, local legislation, and international norms," the agency emphasized.

According to the Main Intelligence Directorate, at least 215 Nigerians have so far signed contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense, and at least 25 of them have been killed or are considered missing in action.

HUR emphasized that "despite statements by Russian diplomats, the number of Nigerian mercenaries in the ranks of the occupying forces continues to grow."

Nigerian citizens are being urged to resist Kremlin recruiters, stop the recruitment of their compatriots for the criminal war against Ukraine, and contact the secure Telegram chatbot of the "I Want to Live" project.

As Ukrinform reported, Lyubov Abravitova, Director of the Department of Africa and Regional African Organizations at Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that as of May 2026, at least 2,965 citizens from 36 African countries had fought or were fighting against Ukraine as part of the Russian army, and Moscow plans to recruit 18,500 foreigners this year in total.