Ukrainian authorities on Thursday said at least 215 Nigerians are fighting as Russian mercenaries, with 25 of them killed or considered missing in the conflict.

The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

The DIU said, “Ayebusiwa Olabode Victor, born on April 28, 1992, was eliminated in combat against the Defence Forces of Ukraine in Kharkiv region near the settlement of Hrafske.”

“At present, it is known that at least 215 Nigerians have signed contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defence. At least 25 of them have been eliminated or are considered missing in action. The number of Nigerian mercenaries in the ranks of the occupation forces continues to grow as they are Africans are lured into fighting as mercenaries for Russia.”

According to the DIU, people from African countries are lured to Russia through fake job advertisements circulated via Facebook and WhatsApp.

The DIU alleged that the victims are then issued visas, one-way tickets, and promised employment, but on arrival in Moscow, they are met by intermediaries who confiscate their passports under the guise of processing documents and place them in hostels.

“Within days, they discover that no job exists, their visas have been cancelled, and they have no money to return home. They are then given a choice: deportation with debt, imprisonment, or signing a contract with the occupation army—the contents of which they often do not even understand due to the language barrier,” the DIU said.

The Nigerian government had, in February, warned citizens against fighting as mercenaries on either side in the lingering war between Ukraine and Russia.

In April, at least 16 Cameroonians serving as military mercenaries for Russia were reportedly killed on the war front in Ukraine.