Ukrainian forces have captured a Nigerian national, Kehinde Oluwagbemileke, who was reportedly fighting on the side of Russia in the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war.
Oluwagbemileke, 29, was apprehended in the Zaporizhzhia region by the Freedom of Russia Legion, a pro-Ukrainian military unit made up of Russian defectors.
According to Ukraine’s I Want to Live project, the Nigerian had lived in Russia for four years before being arrested on drug-related charges. He allegedly opted to join the Russian military in exchange for a reduced sentence under Article 228 of Russia’s Criminal Code, which covers drug possession and trafficking.
“He is one of thousands of mercenaries from third countries recruited by Russia’s Defense Ministry to fight in Ukraine,” the group stated. “We’ve published data on nearly 7,000 foreign fighters from 14 countries—just a fraction of the manpower the Kremlin sends to the front.”
Oluwagbemileke reportedly spent five months in combat before his capture. His detention underscores growing concerns about Russia’s use of foreign nationals and prisoners in exchange for reduced sentences or payment.
There is no official response yet from Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the development. However, the case adds to increasing evidence of Russia’s dependence on foreign recruits to sustain its war efforts.
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