Two Nigerians Lost Their Lives In Russian Military Drone Strike Intelligence reports from Luhansk, Ukraine
Ukrainian intelligence reports that two Nigerians lost their lives in a drone strike in Luhansk while serving in Russian military positions.
Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate has confirmed the deaths of two Nigerian citizens, Hamzat Kazeen Kolawole (born 3 April 1983) and Mbah Stephen Udoka (born 7 January 1988), who were serving in the Russian military in the Luhansk region. According to a statement issued by the agency, both men lost their lives in late November while attempting to assault Ukrainian positions.
The statement, titled “Nigerians in a meat assault the number of identified dead Russian mercenaries from Africa is rising,” disclosed that both individuals were affiliated with the 423rd Guards Motor Rifle Regiment (military unit 91701) of the 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Tank Division within the Russian armed forces. Kolawole finalized his contract on August 29, 2025, whereas Udoka completed his on September 28, 2025.
According to Ukraine’s intelligence report, Udoka was deployed to occupied Ukrainian territory just five days after signing his contract, without having received any military training beforehand. Kolawole’s training records are absent, although it is “highly likely” that he also did not have adequate preparation. Kolawole is survived by his wife and three children in Nigeria, underscoring the personal impact of these foreign deployments.
The Ukrainian agency stated, “Both Nigerians were eliminated by a drone strike and never engaged in a firefight.” It also provided a serious caution to foreign nationals thinking about working in Russia: “A journey to Russia poses a genuine danger of being compelled into a ‘suicide’ assault unit and, in the end, decaying in Ukrainian soil.”
Media reports, including those from CNN, indicate that certain Nigerians and other Africans were enlisted under the pretense of security or private-sector employment in Russia before being sent to the front lines in Ukraine. Videos and eyewitness accounts have emerged, claiming that training was brief and inadequate, followed by immediate deployment into combat situations.
The Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Andrey Podyolyshev, refuted any claims of government involvement, asserting: “There is no government-supported programme to recruit Nigerians to fight in Ukraine.” Any illegal organizations or individuals attempting to recruit Nigerians through unlawful means are not affiliated with the Russian state.
The fatalities of Kolawole and Udoka highlight persistent worries regarding the involvement of foreign nationals in the Ukraine conflict. Numerous individuals are assigned with limited preparation, rendering them susceptible during high-stakes missions. Ukrainian authorities persist in emphasizing the risks associated with such recruitment and urge foreign citizens to refrain from traveling to Russia for military or security positions.
Analysts observe that these cases bring to light wider issues regarding accountability and the involvement of mercenary forces in contemporary conflicts, especially in areas such as Eastern Ukraine where drone strikes and other sophisticated military strategies are becoming more prevalent.
Kolawole and Udoka are among several foreign nationals reported killed while serving in Russian military operations in Ukraine, a trend that continues to attract international attention and scrutiny. Their deaths highlight the increasing human cost of the conflict, extending beyond the immediate battlefield and impacting families and communities far removed from the front lines.
