The flow of foreign mercenaries into Ukraine has dried up, as the total number has almost halved during the conflict, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said on Thursday.
Speaking at a briefing, Konashenkov revealed that, according to MOD data, the number of foreign fighters in Ukraine has decreased from 6,600 to 3,500.
“Hundreds of foreign mercenaries in Ukraine were destroyed by Russian long-range precision weapons shortly after their arrival at the places where they were undergoing additional training and where the tactical units were coordinated,” he claimed.
Most of the mercenaries, according to the spokesman, were killed “due to the low level of training and the lack of real combat experience.”
Konashenkov claimed that Ukrainian commanders “do not spare the foreigners,” and in order to reduce the losses among their own forces, sacrifice the foreigners first, adding that “a significant number” of mercenaries are seeking to leave Ukraine, but the “Kiev regime in every possible way prevents them from going abroad.”
“We note that since the beginning of May, the flow of foreign mercenaries to Ukraine to participate in hostilities against the Russian armed forces has virtually dried up,” Konashenkov stated.
Apparent attempts by the Ukrainian authorities to provide the foreign fighters with legal protection, by adding them to the lists of the Armed Forces or giving them Ukrainian passports, will not save them from liability, he said.