Russia has claimed that 11,675 foreign fighters have joined the Ukrainian military since the beginning of the full-scale invasion on 24th February 2022.
Russia’s Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov claimed that the largest groups of foreign fighters came from Poland (over 2,600 people), the USA and Canada (900 or more people), Georgia (over 800 people), the UK and Romania (700 or more people each), Croatia (over 300 people), as well as from France and the Turkish-controlled part of Syria (200 or more people each) during a daily briefing on Monday, 10th July.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Monday, 10th July, along with a statement claiming (in English): “Against the background of the disruption of the next wave of mobilisation in Ukraine and in order to conceal the catastrophic losses of military personnel in the AFU, the Kiev regime has stepped up recruitment work in Asian, Latin American and Middle Eastern countries to attract foreign mercenaries.
“In total, since 24 February 2022, 11675 foreign mercenaries from 84 countries have officially arrived in Ukraine to participate in the combat operations on the side of the AFU. The largest number of mercenaries came to Ukraine in March-April 2022, but after the first losses were suffered, the dynamics of their arrival has sharply decreased.
“The most numerous groups came from Poland (over 2,600 people), the USA and Canada (900 or more people), Georgia (over 800 people), the UK and Romania (700 or more people each), Croatia (over 300 people), as well as from France and the Turkish-controlled part of Syria (200 or more people each).
“As of 30 June, 4,845 foreign mercenaries, the vast majority from the United States, Canada and European countries, have been reliably confirmed killed in the fighting. Another 4,801 foreign fighters escaped from the territory of Ukraine after dealing with the attitude of the Kiev regime towards them. Today, 2,029 mercenaries continue to operate in the ranks of the AFU.
“According to the information obtained during interrogations of captured Ukrainian servicemen, the commanders of AFU units operating on the line of contact are not held accountable for losses among foreign mercenaries. The Ukrainian command treat the foreign mercenaries as cannon fodder, sending them at Russian positions in the first place. The evacuation of wounded mercenaries is organised on a residual principle, only after Ukrainian servicemen are removed.
“Due to the high losses of personnel, the Kiev regime has reportedly launched the recruitment of foreign mercenaries in Argentina, Brazil, Afghanistan, Iraq and in the American-controlled areas of Syria over the past month. In connection with the multiple drop in interest in dying ‘for the Kiev regime’ in Poland, the United Kingdom and other European countries, recruitment activities have been stepped up in the United States of America and Canada. This work is being carried out on the basis of Ukrainian foreign institutions with the assistance of Western intelligence services, primarily the CIA and private military companies under its control (Academi, Cubic and Dean Corporation).
“Foreign mercenaries are used by the Kiev regime as ‘cannon fodder’. Their lives are not spared by anyone in the Ukrainian command. Therefore, they have only one choice – to escape from Ukraine or die.
“The Russian Armed Forces will continue to eliminate foreign mercenaries regardless of their location on Ukrainian territory during the special military operation.”
We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 503rd day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 11th July 2023, Russia had lost about 235,020 personnel, 4,089 tanks, 7,983 armoured combat vehicles, 4,385 artillery units, 672 multiple launch rocket systems, 414 air defence systems, 315 warplanes, 310 helicopters, 3,693 drones, 1,271 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 6,966 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 640 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Turkey agreed on Monday to allow Sweden to join NATO ahead of a key summit in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius taking place today, 11th July, and tomorrow, 12th July.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said that he wants to work with allies to discuss a pathway for Ukraine to join NATO, although the exact mechanism to do so is up for discussion.
This is according to the Prime Minister’s spokesperson, after Sunak met with US President Joe Biden.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin days after the aborted insurrection by the mercenary boss and his army, according to Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesperson.
A Russian attack on humanitarian aid distribution point in south-eastern Ukraine on Monday killed seven people, according to Ukrainian emergency services.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that his forces have “taken the initiative” and are pressing on with their campaign to retake Russian-occupied areas in south-eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said that her country’s forces had marked “a definite advance” on the southern flank of Bakhmut.
