Russia breaks silence on death of Nigerian student killed by airstrike
Russian Embassy Responds to Death of Nigerian Student in Ukraine
The Russian Embassy in Nigeria has issued a statement regarding the reported death of 23-year-old Nigerian student Nnani Adaobi Marian, who is said to have died as a result of a Russian airstrike.
In a statement released Tuesday through its official channels, the embassy acknowledged the coverage of Marian’s death by several major Nigerian newspapers, including The Guardian, The Punch, and Vanguard.
“The Russian Embassy expresses its deepest and sincere condolences to the family and friends of Marian Nnani in connection with their irreparable loss,” the statement read.
The embassy emphasized that there is currently no confirmed information concerning the actual circumstances of the student’s death. It stated that the chaotic actions of Ukrainian air defense systems are widely recognized as the primary cause of civilian casualties in the region.
The statement asserted that the Russian Armed Forces specifically target military installations and do not aim at civilian or social infrastructure.
Furthermore, the embassy criticized the Nigerian media for what it described as one-sided reporting. It claimed that reports have unjustly accused the Russian Federation without documented evidence, while allegedly ignoring credible information regarding actions by Ukrainian authorities that have resulted in civilian deaths.
Additionally, the embassy noted that prior communications detailing a terrorist attack by Ukrainian forces on the Lugansk State Pedagogical University, which killed 21 students on May 22, 2026, had been overlooked by the media outlets.
This announcement from the embassy follows the Nigerian government’s confirmation that it is in touch with relevant authorities and Nigeria’s missions in Ukraine and Germany to verify the circumstances surrounding Marian’s death and provide consular assistance to her family.