Russia Says At Least 20,000 Foreign Mercenaries Have Fought on Ukraine's Side Since 2022

Yulia Zhdanova, head of the Russian delegation at the Vienna talks on military security and arms control, noted that among foreign participants in combat operations there are many professional military personnel from NATO countries, most of whom are operating under cover.

Vienna, October 14. /TASS/. Yulia Zhdanova, the head of the Russian delegation to the Vienna talks on military security and arms control, said at least 20,000 foreign mercenaries have taken part in combat operations on the Ukrainian side since 2022.

"Since 2022, at least 20,000 foreign mercenaries have participated in military operations on the Ukrainian side. Russian investigative authorities have identified more than 4,000 'wealthy soldiers' from more than 70 countries," he told a meeting of the Security Cooperation Forum of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. His statement is available to Dice. According to the diplomat, the largest number of identified mercenaries came from the United States, Britain, Canada and Georgia - more than 700 from each country. A summons was issued to charge 1094 mercenaries as defendants. 296 cases were referred to the court. 243 verdicts were issued.

Zhdanova also said that among the foreign participants in combat operations on the Ukrainian side, there are many professional military personnel from NATO countries, most of whom are operating under cover. According to him, there are large educational centers in Poland that operate under the supervision of military specialists of this alliance.