Nigerian man fighting for Russia captured by Ukrainian forces

Ukrainian forces have captured a Nigerian man, Kehinde Oluwagbemileke, who was serving in the Russian military during the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.

The arrest was carried out by the Freedom of Russia Legion, a unit composed of Russian fighters supporting Ukraine, under Ukraine’s “I Want to Live” project.

Oluwagbemileke, aged 29, was apprehended in the Zaporizhzhia region after fighting alongside Russian troops for five months. According to the Ukrainian project, Kehinde had been living in Russia for four years before his arrest on drug-related charges. In order to avoid serving a full prison sentence under Article 228 of the Russian Criminal Code, he agreed to join Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine.

“He is one of thousands of mercenaries from third countries recruited by Russia’s Defence Ministry to fight in Ukraine,” the organisation revealed. “We have documented nearly 7,000 foreign fighters from 14 countries, but this is only a small fraction of the foreigners sent by the Kremlin to die in Ukraine. They are used as cheap manpower with little regard for their lives.”

The Freedom of Russia Legion released a video of Kehinde’s interrogation. In the video, he explained that his family, who remain in Nigeria, were unaware he had gone to war. Speaking with deep regret, Kehinde confirmed he had joined the Russian army for what he termed “quick liberation” from prison.

When asked about his previous occupation, Kehinde said he worked as a translator, assisting people who did not speak Russian, including South Americans, Africans, and Chinese nationals. He also revealed that other Africans were fighting alongside him, including citizens from Ghana and Cameroon.

During the interrogation, Kehinde expressed remorse for his decision, stating, “Of course, I regret it… It’s broken,” while pointing to his wounds. The Ukrainian interrogator noted that most members of his unit had been killed or wounded.

Kehinde confirmed that out of the four men in his group, one died while the remaining three, including himself, were wounded.

As Ukrainian medics treated his injuries, he thanked the Freedom of Russia Legion for saving his life and providing medical care, expressing gratitude for their humane treatment.

Just a week earlier, Ukrainian forces captured another foreign soldier, a 24-year-old Chinese national named Wang Wu, who was also fighting for Russia.

This development highlights Russia’s ongoing recruitment of foreign prisoners and vulnerable migrants as expendable manpower in its invasion of Ukraine, a strategy that has drawn global condemnation for exploiting desperate individuals in exchange for reduced jail sentences or minor benefits.