A Nigerian man, Kehinde Oluwagbemileke, has been captured by Ukrainian forces while fighting for the Russian Army in the ongoing war.
The 29-year-old was arrested by the Freedom of Russia Legion, a group of Russian soldiers supporting Ukraine.
Kehinde, who had lived in Russia for four years, was serving time for a drug-related offence before joining the Russian military. He reportedly agreed to fight in exchange for a reduced prison sentence.
He was captured in the Zaporizhzhia region after five months at the war front.
According to Ukraine’s “I Want to Live” project, he is one of thousands of foreign fighters used by Russia. The group said, “Kehinde is one of thousands of mercenaries from third countries recruited by Russia’s Defence Ministry to fight in Ukraine… All of them are cheap manpower, which is not spared.”
In a video shared by the legion, Kehinde was seen being questioned. When asked why he went to war, he said, “For quick liberation.” He confirmed he had been in prison and was freed to join the army.
Speaking about his experience, he said, “We were four. We went. One died, the rest injured. Lucky I’m alive.” He also said his family in Nigeria didn’t know he went to war.
He told the interrogators that he used to work as a translator in Russia, helping people from South America, Africa, and China. He mentioned that other Africans in his group were from Nigeria, Ghana, and Cameroon.
At the end of the video, while receiving medical care, he thanked the Freedom of Russia Legion for saving his life and treating his wounds.
Last week, Ukrainian forces also captured a Chinese citizen fighting for the Russian Army.
