The Russian Embassy in Nigeria firmly denies any allegations that the Russian government or any official entities are involved in recruiting Nigerian citizens to participate in the ongoing special military operation in Ukraine.
In a press briefing held at the Russian Embassy in Abuja on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, His Excellency Andrey Podyelyshev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, categorically refuted claims suggesting a government-backed program to enlist Nigerians for combat roles.
“There is no government-supported programme to recruit Nigerians to fight in Ukraine,” Ambassador Podyelyshev stated.
“If there are illegal organisations or individuals attempting to recruit Nigerians by unlawful means, such actions are not connected with the Russian state in any way.”
The Ambassador emphasized that any form of unauthorized or illegal recruitment constitutes a violation of Russian law.
He assured that credible information regarding such activities would be promptly forwarded to the relevant Russian law enforcement authorities for thorough investigation and appropriate action.
These denials come in response to recent media reports and social media claims, including references to investigations suggesting that some individuals from Nigeria and other African countries may have been misled with promises of civilian employment in Russia, only to face pressure to join military service.
The Russian side maintains that no official policy or program exists to target Nigerian citizens for military involvement, and such reports are unfounded when attributed to the Russian government.
The Russian Federation remains committed to strengthening bilateral relations with Nigeria across various sectors, including diplomatic, economic, educational, and military-technical cooperation, in the spirit of mutual respect and partnership.
The Embassy urges Nigerian citizens and media outlets to rely on verified official sources and to exercise caution against misinformation or fraudulent schemes that exploit individuals under false pretenses.