Russia talks about the fate of thousands of mercenaries in Ukraine

In a statement released on April 17, the Russian Defense Ministry said that an estimated 6,824 foreign mercenaries from 63 countries have come to Ukraine to fight for the government of President Volodymyr Zelensky. Of these, 1,035 soldiers were killed by the Russian side. About 400 foreign mercenaries are still concentrated in Mariupol, where Ukrainian forces refuse to surrender at Russia’s call.

The largest group of foreign fighters is 1,717 soldiers from Poland, while about 1,500 come from the US, Canada and Romania. In addition, 300 are from Britain and Georgia, while another 193 are from Turkish-controlled areas in Syria.

These numbers were announced by the spokesman of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Major General Igor Konashenkov on April 17. According to the general, 1,035 foreign mercenaries were killed by Russian forces and 912 fled Ukraine, while 4,877 soldiers are active in the cities of Kiev, Kharkov, Odessa, Nikolaev and Mariupol.

Mr. Konashenkov stated that about 400 of these foreign fighters were still joining Ukrainian nationalist battalions in the besieged port city of Mariupol. With much of the city under Russian control, these forces dug deep into the vast Azovstal metallurgical plant, a massive Soviet-built factory complex spanning 11 square kilometers.

Major General Konashenkov said: “Most of them are citizens of European countries, as well as Canadian and Russian forces intercepted radio communications from the factory in six foreign languages. After more than 1,000 members Members of Ukraine’s 36th Marine Brigade surrendered at the Ilyich Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol earlier this week, which Ukraine denies, the Russian military has given the Azovstal garrison one last chance to take down arms and surrendered on April 17. Russia promised that “everyone who lays down their weapons will have their lives guaranteed”.

However, Ukrainian soldiers did not do so and the explosion of heavy guns could be heard near the factory on the afternoon of April 17. Major General Konashenkov stated: “In the event of further resistance, they will all be annihilated. Let me remind you that foreign mercenaries do not have “warrior” status under International Humanitarian Law. They come. Ukraine to make money by killing Slavs. So the best thing waiting for them is criminal responsibility and long prison sentences.”

Within days of Russia’s military incursion into Ukraine, authorities in Kiev promised visa-free entry to foreigners willing to take up arms against Moscow’s forces. Potential recruits visited Ukrainian embassies across the West and signed up to fight in Ukraine.

However, hiring shrank in March to those with military experience and halted altogether in early April. Ukraine’s “international corps” told Canadian media that sending untrained volunteers to the front was becoming more of an obstacle than a help, and supplies of weapons and ammunition is running out.