Ukraine has said it killed foreign nationals from Colombia and Zimbabwe fighting in Russian ranks on the Lyman front, where foreigners are said to make up about 30 per cent of personnel in newly deployed Russian units.
Citing Ukraine’s 66th Separate Mechanised Brigade, United24 Media reported that the Colombian and Zimbabwean fighters were killed by soldiers from its 3rd Mechanised Battalion “Fireflies” and the “Siverska Sich” Motorised Infantry Battalion.
In a statement on 2 September, the brigade said the proportion of foreign nationals serving in Russian formations in its area of responsibility has continued to increase, particularly among newly deployed units.
It said many come from African and Latin American countries and, according to the Ukrainian military, were recruited into Russian service through deception.
The statement follows an assessment given several days earlier by Vasyl Denysiuk, spokesperson for the 66th Brigade, who told Suspilne on 29 August that foreign personnel were becoming increasingly common among Russian reinforcements arriving on the Lyman axis.
According to Denysiuk, the recruits come from Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia. He said that when Russia deploys a fresh company to the brigade’s area of responsibility, about one platoon can consist entirely of foreign personnel.
He said the recruits generally receive limited military training before being sent on combat missions. The brigade has linked this to an increase in cases of foreign fighters surrendering to Ukrainian forces.
The latest cases form part of a wider pattern of foreign nationals serving in the Russian military. On 4 August, Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Liubinets said Ukraine had captured citizens of 51 countries while they were fighting in Russian ranks.
Follow the story
