Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of recruiting foreign mercenaries and has threatened to retaliate. The Kremlin’s army has suffered horrific casualties in just under three-and-a-half years of brutal fighting.
Ukraine estimates that roughly 1,050,000 Russians have been killed or wounded on the battlefields. A new report by the UK Defence Intelligence claims that of these 260,000 have been killed. The Kremlin has sought to replenish its frontline troops with foreign recruits, having turned first to North Korea for help.
Following the signing of a mutual defence pact last June between Pyongyang and Moscow, Kim Jong un has dispatched thousands of North Korean soldiers to Russia.
The North Korean units found themselves deployed initially to Russia’s Kursk region, to help retake territory seized by Kyiv’s forces last August.
However, Zelensky has accused the Kremlin of actively recruiting fighters from as afar afield as China, Africa and Pakistan.
Commenting on his visit to the Kharkiv region, the Ukrainian president wrote on his X social media page: “Today, I was with those defending our country in the Vovchansk direction – the warriors of the 17th Separate Motorised Infantry Battalion of the 57th Brigade named after Kish Otaman Kost Hordiienko.
“We spoke with commanders about the frontline situation, the defense of Vovchansk, and the dynamics of the battles. We also specifically addressed the issues of drone supply and deployment, recruitment, and direct funding for the brigades.
“Our warriors in this sector are reporting the participation of mercenaries from China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and African countries in the war.”
He then ominously added: “We will respond.”
Ukraine is also actively recruiting foreign fighters to fight with its army to help boost troop numbers. Zelensky’s army currently includes volunteers from 72 countries, with nearly 40% hailing from South America.
More than 8,000 foreign nationals have already joined Ukraine’s Ground Forces, according to Kostiantyn Milevskyi – an officer responsible for recruiting non-Ukrainian nationals.