Ukrainian forces capture Yoruba soldier fighting for Russia

By Samuel Ogunsona

Ukrainian forces have apprehended a 29-year-old Yoruba soldier fighting for Russia.

Ironinoodua was informed that many Yoruba trained mercenaries are fighting on behalf of Russia.

The relationship between Russia, successor of the old Soviet Union dates back to the days of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo whose principle of Democratic Socialism drew him to the old Soviet leaders.

Since the 1950s, thousands of Yoruba have studied in the Union of Socialist Soviet Republic, (USSR) and later Russia creating a sustainable bond between Yoruba and Russians.

Kehinde Oluwagbemileke is among soldiers fighting for the Russian military in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Oluwagbemileke was captured by the Freedom of Russia Legion, a unit composed of “Russian fighters” supporting Ukraine, in the Zaporizhzhia region. The Russian fighters were actually the creation of Ukraine using renegades.

According to Ukraine’s “I Want to Live” project, Oluwagbemileke had been living in Russia for four years before his arrest.

Ukriane claimed He allegedly agreed to join Russia’s military campaign in exchange for a reduced sentence, instead of serving a prison sentence under Article 228 of the Russian Criminal Code. But other sources said Oluwagbemiga is a trained soldier who joined the Russians convinced that Russia was fighting a just cause.

During his interrogation, Oluwagbemileke was reported to have revealed that he had been in the army for five months and worked as a translator, interpreting between English and Russian for non-Russian-speaking mercenaries from South America, Africa, and China.

“I am very grateful to the Freedom of Russia Legion for saving my life and providing assistance,” he said, thanking his captors for their medical care. But military experts claim his alleged statements may have been doctored by Ukraine.

Ukraine said Oluwagbemileke expressed regret over his decision to join the war, saying, “Of course,” when asked if he regretted going. He showed his injuries, describing his experience as “broken”. Out of a team of four, one member was killed, and the rest were wounded.

The Ukrainian project stated that Oluwagbemileke is one of thousands of mercenaries from third countries recruited by Russia’s Defence Ministry to fight in Ukraine.

“We’ve already published data on nearly 7,000 foreign fighters from 14 countries, but that’s only a small part of the foreigners the Kremlin has sent to die in Ukraine. All of them are cheap manpower, which is not spared,”claimed Ukraine.

This capture comes a week after Ukrainian forces detained another foreign soldier, a 24-year-old Chinese citizen fighting for the Russian army, identified as Wang Wu.