Ukrainian Military Intelligence identifies Nigerian mercenaries killed in Luhansk
Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) reported the discovery of the bodies of two citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who had been fighting on the side of Russian occupying forces.
The foreigners were killed during assault operations in Luhansk region. Military intelligence has confirmed the identities of the deceased mercenaries: Hamzat Kazin Kalawole, born in 1983, and Mbah Stephen Udoka, born in 1988.
Both Nigerians served in a unit of Russia’s 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Tank Division. According to recovered documents, they signed contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defence in the second half of 2025. Kalawole joined the Russian army on 29 August, while Udoka enlisted on 28 September. This reflects a systematic Kremlin campaign to recruit African nationals for the war against Ukraine.
Intelligence officers highlighted that the recruits had no formal military training. Notably, Mbah Stephen Udoka was deployed to occupied Ukrainian territory just five days after signing his contract, effectively being sent to the front without basic military preparation.
Earlier, HUR urged Russian engineers to surrender missile secrets and published a list of Russian factories producing drones used in attacks on Ukraine.
