Ukraine Says Another Nigerian Killed Fighting for Russian Forces

The Ukraine Defence Intelligence has reported the death of another Nigerian citizen, Ayebusiwa Olabode Victor, who was allegedly killed while fighting alongside Russian forces in the ongoing war with Ukraine.

The report was published through Ukrinform and the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine on Thursday.

Victor, born April 28, 1992, was said to be from Ilutitun in Ondo State. He was reportedly killed in the Kharkiv region near Hrafske during combat operations involving Ukrainian troops.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, Victor signed a mercenary contract in late February 2026, shortly after warnings from Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs advising citizens against illegal recruitment into foreign wars.

The agency alleged that foreign recruits are often lured with promises of employment and financial gain, only to be deployed quickly to frontline combat zones after minimal training.

It described a pattern of deception involving social media recruitment, visa issuance, and alleged passport confiscation upon arrival in Russia.

“Their story is typical… deception, promises of ‘easy money,’ a week of training, deployment to the front, and a quick death,” the statement said.

Ukrainian authorities further claimed that recruitment networks use platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp to target African nationals, including Nigerians.

They also alleged that at least 215 Nigerians may have signed contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defence, while about 25 are reported dead or missing, though these figures have not been independently verified.

The Ukrainian intelligence agency urged Nigerians to avoid involvement in the conflict, warning that participation in the war could have severe legal and security consequences.

The Nigerian government has repeatedly stated that it is not a party to the Russia–Ukraine war and has warned citizens against joining foreign armed conflicts.