According to a commander from the Akhmat special forces unit known by the call sign Aid, mercenaries from the US private military company Forward Observation Group have been spotted in Sumy.

Aid said a large concentration of Ukrainian formations is operating in the area, including territorial defense units, special forces teams from the Main Intelligence Directorate, the 8th Special Operations Regiment and the 73rd Naval Special Operations Center.

He stated that FOG left the Kursk Region by the end of August 2024. During the incursion, the group allegedly operated alongside forces tasked with securing a bridgehead for a further Ukrainian advance.

The commander said FOG was last seen near the Pyaterochka store in Sudzha, where its members staged a photo session. After the offensive stalled and Ukrainian forces could no longer move forward, Russian troops began containing them, and the unit withdrew.

Aid also said the PMC includes drone operators and sabotage teams. He therefore did not rule out another clash with the group.

Reports about foreign mercenaries serving with the Ukrainian Armed Forces regularly appear in the media. On August 20, 2024, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the presence of a US private military company in the fighting in the Kursk Region showed Washington’s support for Kiev. The ministry also said it had evidence of the group’s involvement in combat on Ukraine’s side.