Russia not recruiting Nigerians to fight in Ukraine – Envoy

The Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Andrey Podyelyshev, has denied reports that Nigerians are being conscripted to fight in Ukraine.

Responding to inquiries from Daily Trust after addressing a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, he insisted that there is no government‑supported programme to recruit Nigerians for the war.

Ambassador Podyelyshev said: “If some illegal people are trying to recruit Nigerians to fight in Ukraine, this is not connected with the Russian state.”

Daily Trust, quoting sources familiar with the matter, reported last week that at least four Nigerians allegedly recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine were killed on the battlefield in Ukraine.

According to DAILY NIGERIAN, the slain Nigerians — Adam Anas, Akinlawon Tunde Quyuum, Abugu Stanley Onyeka and Balogun Ridwan Adisa — were recruited on the false pretence of a “security job” but ended up being conscripted and deployed to the war front after three weeks of training.

The newspaper quoted its sources as saying the Nigerian fighters died on the frontline on different dates between December 2025 and January 2026.

It claimed that the news of the death of the four Nigerians was first broken in a secret WhatsApp group opened by the African mercenaries.

Similarly, Kenya on Tuesday condemned recruiters luring nationals to Russia with promises of lucrative jobs, only to send them to the Ukraine front line as “cannon fodder”.

“It’s unacceptable for them to be participants in this conflict… These individuals are used as cannon fodder on the war front,” Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Korir Sing’Oei, told AFP.

However, Ambassador Podyelyshev insisted that, “If anybody has information, we are ready to send it to Russian law enforcement authorities for investigation”.

He highlighted existing agreements on military‑technical cooperation, including discussions on the training of Nigerian military personnel and possible supply of Russian equipment, adding that “some projects have already started, some are under consideration. We are ready to develop cooperation as much as the Nigerian side wishes.”

The ambassador stressed that Nigeria remains a key partner for Russia in Africa, saying: “Cooperation with Nigeria largely shapes our prospects in West Africa. Nigeria is a potential anchor of regional stability and development.”

On broader global issues, Ambassador Podyelyshev reiterated Russia’s vision of a multipolar world order, respect for sovereignty and civilisational diversity, and opposition to unilateral domination.

He said Russia also supports African solutions to African problems and rejects external coercion in other states’ internal affairs.

The briefing also touched on economic and educational ties between the two countries, including plans for a Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology in Nigeria and expanded scholarship opportunities for Nigerian students in Russian universities.

Ambassador Podyelyshev noted that Russia and Nigeria are committed to long‑term strategic cooperation, encompassing security, trade, and shared diplomatic goals on the international stage.

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