In a statement released Thursday, the intelligence agency identified the deceased as Hamzat Kazeen Kolawole, born April 3, 1983, and Mbah Stephen Udoka, born January 7, 1988. Both men died in late November during a drone strike in the Luhansk region as Russian forces attempted to storm Ukrainian positions.
According to the statement, titled “Nigerians in a meat assault — the number of identified dead Russian mercenaries from Africa is rising,” both men had recently joined the Russian military. They were serving in the 423rd Guards Motor Rifle Regiment of the 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Tank Division.
Kolawole signed his contract with the Russian army on August 29, 2025, while Udoka enlisted on September 28, 2025. The intelligence directorate reported that Udoka received virtually no military training and was sent to occupied Ukrainian territory just five days after signing his contract. Records indicate that Kolawole also likely received no formal military training. Kolawole is survived by his wife and three children in Nigeria.
