The Russian government has denied claims that it is recruiting Nigerian citizens to fight in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, insisting that no government-backed programme exists to enlist Nigerians as soldiers in the war.
At a press briefing held on Tuesday in Abuja, Andrey Podyelyshev, the Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, described recent reports alleging that Nigerians were being lured into military service as misleading and unconnected to official Russian policy.
He stated unequivocally that Moscow does not support any such recruitment initiative and that any illegal activity involving recruitment would not be linked to the Russian state.
According to the envoy, there is no government-supported programme to recruit Nigerians for combat in Ukraine. He said that while some Nigerians may be present in the conflict zone, their presence is not the result of a sanctioned Russian initiative.
Podyelyshev urged that credible information be shared so that Russian law enforcement authorities can investigate any unlawful recruitment activities, reiterating that such acts—if they occur—are outside state policy.
Ambassador Podyelyshev also addressed the broader Russia-Nigeria relationship, highlighting ongoing defence, economic, and educational cooperation between the two nations.
He described security partnerships and military training discussions as positive areas of bilateral engagement, emphasizing Nigeria’s role as an important strategic partner for Russia in West Africa.
The statement by the Russian envoy comes amid international media reports, including investigations by Western outlets, alleging that Africans from various countries had been lured to Russia under the promise of jobs or training but were subsequently pressured into military service in Ukraine.
Russia has consistently dismissed these reports as unfounded or exaggerated, arguing that they are part of broader attempts to portray Moscow negatively in global discourse.
The Nigerian government has not directly confirmed the specific allegations of recruitment cited in foreign media, but past official positions have consistently emphasised that Nigerians should not be recruited as mercenaries or foreign fighters for conflicts abroad, aligning with Abuja’s long-standing policy against such practices.
As the Russia–Ukraine conflict continues into its fourth year, the issue of foreign fighters and mercenaries remains contentious, with various governments urging their citizens to avoid involvement in the war and scrutinizing reports of illegal recruitment networks.
