…Says Recruits Lured With Fake Job Offers Online
…Alleges Victims Forced Into Military Contracts In Moscow
Daud Olatunji
Ukrainian authorities have alleged that at least 215 Nigerians are currently fighting alongside Russian forces as mercenaries in the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war, with no fewer than 25 reportedly killed or missing in action.
The allegation was made on Thursday by the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), which claimed that foreign recruits, including Nigerians, were drawn into the conflict through deceptive online job offers targeted at vulnerable job seekers across Africa.
According to the DIU, many of the affected individuals allegedly signed contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defence without fully understanding the implications, citing language barriers, misinformation, and misleading recruitment processes.
The agency disclosed the case of a Nigerian national, Ayebusiwa Olabode Victor, born April 28, 1992, who it said was killed during combat operations in the Kharkiv region near Hrafske, in eastern Ukraine.
“At present, it is known that at least 215 Nigerians have signed contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defence. At least 25 of them have been eliminated or are considered missing in action,” the DIU stated, adding that the figures could increase as the war continues.
The Ukrainian intelligence body further alleged that recruitment was being driven through fake job advertisements circulated on social media platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp.
It claimed that victims are initially promised legitimate employment opportunities in Russia, issued visas and one-way tickets, but allegedly face a different reality upon arrival in Moscow.
According to the DIU, many recruits are said to have their travel documents confiscated under the guise of administrative processing, leaving them stranded and without financial support.
“Within days, they discover that no job exists, their visas have been cancelled, and they have no money to return home,” the agency said. “They are then offered a choice between deportation with debt, imprisonment, or signing a military contract with the occupation army.”
The DIU added that several recruits reportedly only realise they have been enlisted for frontline combat after it becomes impossible to withdraw from the arrangement.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government had earlier warned Nigerians against involvement as mercenaries in the Russia–Ukraine war, cautioning that participation in foreign conflicts could expose citizens to legal consequences, exploitation, and grave security risks.
In a related development, reports in April indicated that at least 16 Cameroonians fighting alongside Russian forces were killed in the war, highlighting what analysts describe as a growing trend of African involvement in the prolonged conflict.
Neither the Russian government nor its Ministry of Defence has issued a response to the allegations as of press time.
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