US, Colombian, and Danish nationals were reportedly among those who died in an attack on a training camp in central Ukraine
A Russian strike in late July dealt a major blow to foreign mercenaries in Ukraine, when it hit a training camp set up by Ukrainian military intelligence, the New York Times reported on Tuesday.
The Russian military struck the camp, located near the central Ukrainian city of Kropivnitsky, on July 21 when foreign fighters were gathered for lunch. At least 15 recruits were killed in the attack and over 100 were wounded, according to an American fighter, who talked to the newspaper on condition of anonymity.
American, Colombian, and Danish nationals, as well as fighters from Taiwan, were among those killed in the strike, according to the report.
The Ukrainian Army and military intelligence, which rarely acknowledge successful Russian strikes on military sites, confirmed that the attack did take place and inflicted some casualties but declined to provide specific numbers, according to the NYT.
The Russian Defense Ministry did mention striking the positions of Ukrainian troops, nationalist units and foreign mercenaries in a total of 142 locations in its briefing on July 21, but did not mention the camp near Kropivnitsky specifically.
Kiev is actively recruiting foreigners to its ranks as it struggles to replenish losses suffered in the Ukraine conflict due to mass draft avoidance and desertions. In April, the Ukrainian government simplified rules for foreign recruitment and authorized officials to arrange and pay for their transportation, food, and accommodation.
Over 15,000 foreign citizens from some 110 countries, mostly from Poland, the US, and Georgia, are believed to have taken part in the fighting on Kiev’s side since the start of the conflict, according to estimates provided by Moscow in December 2024. Nearly 6,500 of them have since reportedly been killed in action.
Moscow has consistently warned that any non-Ukrainians serving in Kiev’s military will be regarded as mercenaries and criminals and will not be extended Geneva Convention protections usually granted to combatants.
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