Ukraine’s military intelligence has confirmed the deaths of two Nigerian mercenaries recruited by Russia, issuing a stark warning against joining the "suicide" assault units.

The grim reality of the Russia-Ukraine war has hit home for Nigeria. Ukrainian defense officials have announced the recovery of the bodies of two Nigerian nationals, Hamzat Kazeen Kolawole and Mbah Stephen Udoka, who were killed while fighting for the Russian army. The discovery in the Luhansk region exposes a deadly recruitment pipeline that is luring desperate Africans into the meat grinder of modern trench warfare.

Sent to Die Without Training

The details released by Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence are harrowing. Both men had signed contracts with the Russian military in late 2025. Mbah Stephen Udoka, aged 38, was deployed to the frontlines on October 3—just five days after signing his papers. "Udoka received no training whatsoever," the intelligence report stated. He was assigned to the 423rd Guards Motor Rifle Regiment and sent straight into the line of fire.

• The Victims: Hamzat Kazeen Kolawole (42) and Mbah Stephen Udoka (38). Kolawole leaves behind a wife and three children in Nigeria.
• The Cause of Death: Both men were killed in late November during a failed attempt to storm Ukrainian positions. They reportedly never even fired a shot; they were eliminated by a drone strike.
• The Warning: Kyiv has issued a chilling advisory to foreign citizens: "A trip to Russia is a real risk of being forced into a suicide assault unit and, ultimately, rotting in Ukrainian soil."

The "Civilian Job" Trap

This incident confirms recent investigations by CNN and other agencies, which revealed that Russia is recruiting citizens from Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria under the guise of civilian jobs like security guards or drivers. Once they arrive, their passports are seized, and they are forced into military fatigues. The Russian Embassy in Abuja has previously denied these claims, but the bodies of Kolawole and Udoka offer undeniable proof.

For the families in Nigeria, the promise of a better life abroad has ended in a senseless tragedy thousands of miles away. It serves as a brutal reminder that in the fog of war, foreign mercenaries are often the most expendable assets of all.