UKRAINE has flagged the death of another Nigerian reportedly killed while fighting against Ukrainian forces as a Russian mercenary.
In a statement sighted by News Point Nigeria on Thursday, Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence identified the deceased as Ayebusiwa Olabode Victor, born on April 28, 1992. He was said to originate from Ilutitun in Ondo State.
The front page of his Nigerian passport was attached to the statement as part of the identification details.
According to Ukrainian authorities, Victor was killed in the Kharkiv region near the settlement of Hrafske.
The statement further noted that he signed a mercenary contract in late February—just one week after Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a warning to citizens against illegal recruitment into foreign armed conflicts. The ministry had cited rising cases of Nigerians allegedly being lured abroad under false pretences and forced into combat roles.
Before this latest warning, Ukraine had also said it discovered the bodies of two Nigerians in the Luhansk region, who were allegedly fighting on Russia’s side in the ongoing four-year war.
Russia has repeatedly denied allegations that it covertly recruits Nigerians and other Africans for the conflict, describing such claims as unfounded.
However, Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence insisted that “official Moscow propaganda tells a different story,” citing Mikhail Zvinchuk, described as a pro-war “Z” propagandist closely linked to Russia’s Ministry of Defence and featured on a channel associated with Kremlin figure Vladimir Solovyov.
According to the statement, Zvinchuk publicly described a recruitment scheme allegedly used to bring Africans into the war against Ukraine.
He claimed residents of African countries are lured to Russia through fake job advertisements circulated on platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp.
Victims, according to the account, are issued visas, provided one-way tickets, and promised employment. Upon arrival in Moscow, they are reportedly met by intermediaries who confiscate their passports under the guise of processing documents and house them in hostels.
Within days, they allegedly discover there is no job, their visas have been cancelled, and they are left without money to return home.
They are then reportedly given three options: deportation with debt, imprisonment, or signing a contract with the occupying army—often without fully understanding its contents due to language barriers.
Ukrainian authorities further stated that at least 215 Nigerians have signed contracts with Russia’s Ministry of Defence, while no fewer than 25 are either confirmed dead or missing in action.
Despite repeated denials by Russian diplomats, Ukraine maintained that the number of Nigerian nationals allegedly serving in the ranks of Russian forces continues to increase.