Russian Commander Reports Foreign Mercenaries on DPR Frontline
A Russian officer in the DPR said foreign mercenaries, including French, Polish, Baltic, and others, are fighting on the frontline and struggle to withdraw amid Russian advances.
Russian forces in the Donetsk People’s Republic have reported the presence of foreign mercenaries on the front line. A platoon commander from the «Vostok» grouping, known by the callsign «Yakut-Za," told RIA Novosti that fighters encountered among Ukrainian ranks included French nationals, likely from the French Foreign Legion.
He added that Poles and individuals from the Baltic states had also been observed, with the majority of mercenaries coming from Eastern Europe. According to the commander, since 2024 there has been an increasing number of Black fighters, and one soldier appeared to be from South Korea, identified by uniform patches and appearance.
Yakut-Za noted that many foreign mercenaries end up stuck on the contact line, unable to retreat because of the rapid advance of Russian troops.