Ukrainian military intelligence has reported the deaths of two Nigerian nationals who were serving in the Russian armed forces amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The men, identified as Hamzat Kazeen Kolawole (born April 3, 1983) and Mbah Stephen Udoka (born January 7, 1988), were killed in late November 2025 during an attempted assault on Ukrainian positions in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine.

According to a statement from Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR), the bodies of the two men were discovered in the Luhansk area, a heavily contested front line zone in the Donbas region. Both individuals had reportedly signed contracts with the Russian military in the second half of 2025, Kolawole on August 29 and Udoka on September 28 and were assigned to the 423rd Guards Motor Rifle Regiment (military unit 91701), part of the 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Tank Division.

Ukrainian officials described the incident as a drone strike that eliminated the men before they could engage in direct combat. “They never engaged in a firefight, the mercenaries were eliminated by a drone strike,” the intelligence agency stated in a release titled “Nigerians in a meat assault, the number of identified dead Russian mercenaries from Africa is rising.” The phrase “meat assault” appears to refer to high-casualty, low-preparation infantry tactics reportedly used by Russian forces.

The revelation highlights the growing presence of foreign fighters, including Africans, in the Russian military’s ranks. Reports suggest that recruits from countries like Nigeria have been lured with promises of lucrative civilian jobs, such as security or driving roles, only to be redirected to frontline combat duties after minimal training. In some cases, individuals received just weeks of basic preparation before deployment.

This incident comes amid broader concerns about recruitment practices. The Russian Embassy in Abuja has previously denied any official government backed program to enlist Nigerians for the war, with Ambassador Andrey Podyolyshev stating earlier this month that he was unaware of such activities and that any involvement would not be state connected. However, Ukrainian sources and media investigations have documented cases of Nigerians and other Africans signing contracts and being sent to fight.

Kolawole is said to have left behind a wife and three children in Nigeria, adding a personal dimension to the tragedy. The deaths underscore the human cost of the conflict, now in its fourth year, and the risks faced by foreign recruits drawn into the fighting.

No immediate comment has been issued from Nigerian authorities regarding the incident, though previous reports of Nigerians killed or captured while fighting for Russia have prompted calls for greater oversight of travel and recruitment trends. The war continues to draw international attention, with both sides accusing the other of using foreign fighters in their operations.

This story is based on reports from Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence, as covered by outlets including Arise News, Premium Times, Punch Newspapers, AP News, and Tribune Online. Details of the recruitment processes and exact circumstances remain contested between the involved parties.