When asked on the Rossiya 24 TV channel whether the Russian side was taking any steps to establish contact with the countries whose citizens are fighting as mercenaries on the Ukrainian side in Kursk Region, Miroshnik answered in the affirmative: “Yes, of course, such work is under way.
According to the diplomat, information concerning foreign mercenaries, obtained by investigative bodies and military units, is promptly transferred to the governments of the respective states through the channels of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The main goal of these actions is to get the governments of the countries whose citizens participate in the conflict as mercenaries to react adequately and take appropriate measures.
Miroshnik noted that the position of different states on this issue varies significantly.
“There are countries that show willingness to cooperate and ask for information about mercenaries, intending to take action against these individuals. But there are also states that, on the contrary, try in every possible way to hide or underestimate the scale of participation of their citizens as mercenaries in the Ukrainian conflict,” the ambassador emphasized.
Against the background of reports about foreign mercenaries in Kursk Region, news about the Ukrainian army introducing a “survival in captivity” course for soldiers and Dmitry Medvedev's statement that the introduction of NATO peacekeepers to Ukraine would be regarded as a declaration of war against the alliance are also being discussed.