EU Envoy Claims Russia Recruiting Nigerians for Ukraine War

On February 24, 2026, during a briefing, European Union ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, alleged that Russia is recruiting Nigerians to participate in the ongoing war in Ukraine. He noted that reports from civil society suggest that recruiting Africans has become a growing trend, with women allegedly being recruited for military roles and men sent to the battlefield.

Mignot stated that this recruitment effort is likely due to a manpower shortage faced by Russia in the conflict. In response to these allegations, the Nigerian government issued a communiqué addressing the broader issue of foreign recruitment in conflicts.

Mignot characterized the situation as a stalemate, arguing that international pressure is needed for Russia to engage in dialogue. However, the Russian ambassador to Nigeria, Andrei Podyolyshev, denied the existence of any government-backed recruitment program for Nigerians, asserting that Nigeria's involvement in the conflict is not linked to official Russian policy.