Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence has identified another Nigerian allegedly killed while fighting on the side of Russian forces in the ongoing war with Ukraine.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Ukrainian authorities named the deceased as Ayebusiwa Olabode Victor, born on April 28, 1992, and said to be from Ilutitun in Ondo State.
According to the statement, Victor was killed in the Kharkiv region near the settlement of Hrafske.
Ukrainian authorities also released what they described as the front page of the Nigerian’s passport alongside the statement.
The agency alleged that Victor signed a mercenary contract with Russian forces in late February, about a week after Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned citizens against illegal recruitment into foreign armed conflicts.
The ministry had cited growing reports of Nigerians allegedly being deceived with promises of jobs abroad and later forced into combat roles.
Ukraine claimed that Victor’s death followed the earlier discovery of two Nigerians allegedly fighting for Russia in the Luhansk region.
According to the statement, Russia has consistently denied accusations that it is covertly recruiting Nigerians and other Africans to fight in the war.
However, Ukraine alleged that Russian-linked propagandists had publicly discussed recruitment tactics targeting Africans.
“Residents of African countries are lured to Russia through fake job advertisements distributed via Facebook and WhatsApp,” the statement read.
Ukraine further alleged that recruits are issued visas and flight tickets with promises of employment, only to have their passports confiscated upon arrival in Moscow before being pressured into signing military contracts.
The statement claimed that at least 215 Nigerians had signed contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defence, while at least 25 Nigerians were either killed or declared missing in action.
Russia has repeatedly dismissed such allegations as unfounded.
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