ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A young man from Erbil who was recently reported dead while serving in the Russian army is alive and has contacted his family, local officials and relatives said Wednesday.
Matin Wahab, a 22-year-old from the Sidakan district within the Soran independent administration, joined the Russian army about six months ago, according to his family. Last week, his relatives were informed that he had been killed after going missing in mid-August, and preparations were made to repatriate his body. However, he has recently contacted his father by phone.
“I spoke with my son by phone and thank God he is safe,” Wahab Khadr, Matin’s father, told Rudaw on Wednesday.
Halgurd Sheikh Najib, head of the Soran administration, said authorities had previously received official documentation confirming Wahab’s death.
“Last week, through Iraq and Kurdistan's representation in Russia, we received documented news of that young man's death, and they even sent us an official death report. Therefore, we informed his family and intensified our efforts to bring back his body,” Najib told Rudaw.
Najib said the information later proved incorrect. “Although this is good news for us, we are working on producing correct documentation regarding his survival, and we will inform you of the results,” he added.
Wahab left his home on August 15 and later appeared in a video showing him armed alongside Russian forces on the front lines. His relatives told Rudaw on Thursday that he “had been deceived by a group that lured him to Russia under the pretext of work and then involved him in the Ukraine war.”
Similar cases have been reported in recent years. Experts say several young Kurds and dozens of other Iraqis have joined Russian or Ukrainian forces, often after being enticed by promises of high pay.