Russia Denies Recruitment Of Nigerians For Ukraine War, Says Such Organisations Are Illegal!

Russia Denies Recruitment Of Nigerians For Ukraine War, Says Such Organisations Are Illegal!

Reported by Mustapha Labake Omowumi (Journalist) | Sele Media Africa

Russia has firmly rejected allegations that it is recruiting Nigerian citizens to fight in its war against Ukraine, describing such claims as false and illegal.
According to the Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Andrey Podyelyshev, there is no government-backed programme to enlist Nigerians as soldiers in the ongoing conflict. The envoy dismissed reports suggesting that Nigerians were being lured to Russia under the pretext of employment, only to be deployed to the frontlines with minimal training.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Ambassador Podyelyshev described the recruitment claims as misleading and unconnected to the Russian state, adding that any organisations or individuals engaging in such activities would be operating outside the law.
“There is no government-supported programme to recruit Nigerians to fight in Ukraine,” Podyelyshev stated, stressing that if those behind any unlawful recruitment efforts exist, they are not acting on behalf of Russia. He further indicated that Moscow would be willing to investigate credible evidence if presented.
Reports allege that some Nigerians were promised lucrative jobs, including salaries and other benefits, only to end up in military roles after being flown to Russia. These claims include assertions that recruits were pressured into signing contracts in languages they did not understand before being deployed. However, the Russian envoy said there is no confirmation of an official programme supporting this and distanced the Kremlin from such actions.
Ambassador Podyelyshev also challenged the reliability of certain Western media narratives, arguing that some reports are aimed at “demonising Russia.” He encouraged journalists to visit Russia to verify the situation firsthand.
The latest clarification from Moscow comes amid concerns over foreign nationals including Africans allegedly being drawn into the Ukraine conflict under questionable circumstances. While reports exist of individuals from various countries ending up in the war zone, Russia maintains that no state policy exists to recruit foreign fighters.
Background Context
Although Russia denies formal recruitment of Nigerians, international investigations including by CNN and other major outlets have previously highlighted cases of Africans claiming they were enticed with job offers and later ended up on the frontlines, raising continued scrutiny over recruitment practices.

Citation:
1.Arise TV
https://www.arise.tv/russian-envoy-denies-recruitment-of-nigerians-for-ukraine-war/

2.The Guardian Nigeria
https://guardian.ng/featured/ukraine-war-russia-denies-recruiting-nigerians/

3.Punch
https://punchng.com/russia-denies-recruiting-nigerians-for-ukraine-conflict/

4.Daily Trust
https://dailytrust.com/russia-were-not-hiring-nigerians-to-fight-in-ukraine-war/

5.THISDAYLIVE
https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/02/11/russian-envoy-denies-recruitment-of-nigerians-for-ukraine-war/

6.allAfrica.com
https://allafrica.com/stories/202602110078.html

About The Author

Mustapha Labake Omowumi

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Mustapha Labake Omowumi is a journalist from Ibadan, Oyo State, and a graduate of the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) in Economics and Mathematics. He demonstrates a strong commitment to professional journalism, with a keen interest in writing and storytelling, guided by principles of self-discipline, accuracy, and trustworthiness.

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