The Russian Embassy in Nigeria has reacted to reports surrounding the death of 23-year-old Nigerian medical graduate Nnani Adaobi Marian, who died after sustaining injuries during an airstrike in Kharkiv, Ukraine.
Marian, a student of Kharkiv National Medical University, was injured on June 29, 2026, during a reported Russian aerial bombardment and later died on July 5 in Germany despite medical efforts to save her life.
In a statement released Tuesday, the Russian Embassy expressed condolences to her family but said there is no confirmed evidence that Russian forces were responsible for her death.
“The Embassy expresses its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Marian Nnani,” the statement read. “At the moment, there is no confirmed information on whose actions caused the death.”
The embassy maintained that Russian forces target only military infrastructure and not civilians, adding that civilian casualties are often the result of what it described as “chaotic” Ukrainian air defense operations.
It also accused sections of the Nigerian media of publishing “biased” reports without sufficient evidence and ignoring information provided by Russian authorities regarding other incidents in the conflict.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Federal Government has said it is working with its missions in Ukraine and Germany, as well as relevant authorities, to verify the circumstances surrounding Marian’s death and provide consular support to her family.
The incident has drawn attention to the risks faced by foreign nationals in Ukraine, where ongoing hostilities continue to result in civilian casualties.
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