Nigerians Hamzat Kolawole, Stephen Udoka killed in Ukraine

Military intelligence operatives in Ukraine’s Luhansk region have discovered the bodies of two Nigerian citizens, Hamzat Kazeen Kolawole (born April 3, 1983) and Mbah Stephen Udoka (born January 7, 1988), who were serving in the Russian Armed Forces.

Both men were enlisted in the 423rd Guards Motor Rifle Regiment (military unit 91701) of the 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Tank Division.

They signed contracts with the Russian army in the second half of 2025, Kolawole on August 29 and Udoka on September 28.

Udoka reportedly received no military training; only five days after signing, he was deployed to Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine. No records exist confirming Kolawole’s training, but it is believed he also did not undergo proper military preparation. Kolawole leaves behind a wife and three children in Nigeria.

Both Nigerians were killed in late November 2025 during an attempted assault on Ukrainian positions in Luhansk. According to military sources, the men did not engage in direct combat but were eliminated in a drone strike while taking part in what intelligence officials described as a “meat” assault, operations in which foreign recruits are sent in with little preparation or support.

Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Service has warned foreign nationals against traveling to Russia or taking up employment in the country, citing the high risk of being forced into combat operations with minimal training. The agency described the practice as effectively compelling foreigners into “suicide” assault units.