Russia Claims Tens of Thousands of Foreign Fighters Have Served in Ukraine
“According to estimates by our Defense Ministry, the number of mercenaries who have gone through the ‘meat grinder’ reaches about 20,000 people,” Miroshnik said, adding that numbers may be higher as “the Ukrainian side is making every effort to ‘hide’ these people.”
Moscow has repeatedly warned that any non-Ukrainians serving in the Ukrainian military will be treated as mercenaries and therefore are not afforded the protections of the Geneva Convention normally granted to combatants.
Miroshnik also noted that last month, four foreign legions officially part of the Ukrainian armed forces were disbanded. “They have now been dispersed among other units of the Ukrainian armed forces,” he said.
According to earlier remarks, most of these foreign fighters come from Latin American nations—especially Colombia—as well as Poland and the Baltic states.
Reports indicate that Ukraine relaxed its recruitment rules last year in an effort to replenish forces amid high frontline losses, draft evasion, and desertions.
A former official from Ukraine’s security service previously estimated that roughly 10,000 foreign mercenaries have died fighting for Ukraine.
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