Russian Defense Ministry: Against the backdrop of a breakdown in mobilization, Kyiv has stepped up the recruitment of mercenaries

The Russian Ministry of Defense issued a statement on its Telegram channel saying that Kiev has increased the recruitment of mercenaries in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East against the background of the failure of another wave of mobilization and in order to hide the catastrophic losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Recruitment activity in the USA and Canada has been intensified.

The statement provides data that since February 24, 2022, 11,675 mercenaries from 84 states have arrived in Ukraine to participate in hostilities on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. However, after the first losses suffered, the number of mercenaries dropped sharply. Most of the mercenaries came from Poland – more than 2.6 thousand people, the USA and Canada – 900 or more people. In addition, over 800 people came from Georgia, and from the UK and Romania, 700 people each. There are mercenaries from Croatia, France and from the Turkish-controlled part of Syria.

As of June 30, 4,845 mercenaries were destroyed in battles in Ukraine, who in the vast majority were citizens of the United States, Canada and European countries. 4801 mercenaries escaped from Ukraine. At the moment, there are still 2029 mercenaries in Ukraine.

In addition, the Russian Ministry of Defense, citing captured Ukrainian servicemen, reports that the Ukrainian command throws mercenaries in the first place in the so-called “meat assaults”, while their evacuation in case of injury is carried out according to the residual principle.

The Russian military continues to destroy foreign mercenaries, regardless of their location on the territory of Ukraine, the Russian defense ministry said in a statement.