- Russia denies recruiting Nigerians to fight in the Ukraine war
- Four Nigerians reportedly killed on Ukrainian frontlines
- Alleged fake security jobs used as recruitment cover
- Russian ambassador promises investigation if evidence emerges
The Russian government has denied allegations of recruiting Nigerians to fight in the Ukraine war, following reports that four Nigerian citizens were killed while fighting on Ukrainian frontlines. The Russian Embassy in Abuja insisted that there is no state-backed recruitment programme targeting Nigerians, describing the claims as misleading and unconnected to the Russian government.
Russia has firmly rejected claims that it recruited Nigerians to fight in its ongoing war against Ukraine, stressing that the country does not operate any official programme aimed at enlisting foreign fighters from Nigeria.
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The denial comes after reports alleged that four Nigerians; Adam Anas, Akinlawon Tunde Quyuum, Abugu Stanley Onyeka, and Balogun Ridwan Adisa lost their lives on the Ukrainian battlefield. According to the report, the men were allegedly recruited under the guise of securing private security jobs, only to be forced into military service upon arrival in Russia.
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, a conflict widely regarded as the largest war in Europe since World War II. The report claimed the Nigerians underwent about three weeks of training before being deployed to the frontlines, where they reportedly died between December 2025 and January 2026.
Further allegations stated that news of their deaths first surfaced through a secret WhatsApp group reportedly created by African mercenaries involved in the conflict. The group allegedly shared information about casualties among foreign fighters.
It was also claimed that the Russian Embassy in Abuja issued the men single-entry tourist visas without biometric capture or full compliance with visa requirements. The recruits were reportedly promised a monthly salary of 200,000 roubles, estimated at about ₦3.6 million, alongside allowances and other benefits.
However, upon arrival in Russia, the Nigerians were allegedly forced to sign military contracts written in Russian, without proper translation or legal advice. Some claimed their passports were seized, making it impossible to leave.
Russian Ambassador Reacts
Reacting to the allegations, Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Andrey Podyolyshev, dismissed any suggestion of government involvement.
“There is no government-supported programme to recruit Nigerians to fight in Ukraine. If there are illegal organisations or individuals trying to recruit Nigerians by unlawful means, this is not connected with the Russian state,” Podyolyshev said on Tuesday in Abuja.
He added that the Russian government is open to investigating the matter if credible evidence is presented.
“If anybody has this information, we are ready to forward it to Russian law enforcement authorities so they can investigate those cases,” he stated.
The ambassador also responded to reports from Western media suggesting Nigerians were deceived into joining the conflict, reiterating that any illegal recruitment efforts do not reflect official Russian policy.
