Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.
Sirens sound in large areas of occupied Palestine after a missile launch from Yemen was detected
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 14 martyrs arrive at al-Shifa Hospital following Israeli massacre of al-Sultan Family north of Gaza.

New data on foreign mercenaries in Ukraine published by Russia

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 18 Apr 2022 12:02
  • 3 Shares
3 Min Read

400 foreign mercenaries are still trapped in Mariupol, where Kiev forces have turned down a surrender offer, according to the Russian Defense ministry.

  • x
  • A man carries combat gear as he leaves Poland to fight in Ukraine, at the border crossing in Poland, March 2. (AP)
    A man carries combat gear as he leaves Poland to fight in Ukraine, at the border crossing in Poland, March 2. (AP)

Russian Defense Ministry reported that an estimated 6,824 foreign mercenaries from 63 countries have arrived in Ukraine to fight for Volodymyr Zelensky's government. 

One thousand mercenaries have been eliminated, while thousands more are still deployed in Ukraine, according to the ministry.

The ministry added that four hundred foreign mercenaries have taken refuge in Mariupol, where nationalist forces, including neo-Nazis, have refused to surrender.

The largest group of foreign fighters (1,717) came from Poland, while around 1,500 came from the United States, Canada, and Romania. Up to 300 people arrived from the United Kingdom and Georgia, respectively, while 193 arrived from Turkish-controlled areas of Syria.

Major General Igor Konashenkov, the spokesperson for the Defense Ministry, announced these figures on Sunday. According to the general, Russian forces killed 1,035 foreign mercenaries, and 912 fled Ukraine, leaving 4,877 active in Kiev, Kharkov, Odessa, Nikolaev, and Mariupol.

Approximately 400 of these foreign fighters remain with Ukrainian nationalist battalions in the besieged port city of Mariupol. 

With the majority of the city under Russian control, these forces have been deployed at the massive Azovstal metallurgical plant, an 11-square-kilometer Soviet-built factory complex.

“Most of them are citizens of European countries, as well as Canada,” Konashenkov stated.

Related News

Putin visited Mariupol after Crimea: Kremlin

Over 3,000 killed civilians found in Mariupol: Investigative Committee

The top military figure added that the Russian forces have intercepted radio communications from the plant in six foreign languages.

After the surrender of more than 1,000 members of Ukraine’s 36th Marines Brigade at the Ilyich Steel and Iron Works in Mariupol earlier this week, which Ukraine denies, the Russian military offered the defenders at Azovstal a final chance to lay down their arms and surrender on Sunday morning, promising that “all who lay down their weapons are guaranteed the preservation of life.”

No such surrender occurred, and heavy gunfire could be heard near the plant on Sunday afternoon. "If there is any more resistance, they will all be destroyed," Konashenkov said.

“Let me remind you that foreign mercenaries do not have the status of ‘combatants’ under International Humanitarian Law,” Konashenkov said. “They came to Ukraine to earn money by killing Slavs. Therefore, the best that awaits them is a criminal liability and long prison terms.”

Within days of the start of the war in Ukraine, Kiev government promised visa-free entry to foreigners willing to fight Russian forces. 

Potential recruits went to Ukrainian embassies across the West, signed up to fight – often with the blessing of their own governments – and made their way to the front lines.

According to a spokesperson for Ukraine's so-called "International Legion," sending untrained volunteers to the front lines is becoming more of a hindrance than a help, and supplies of firearms and ammunition are running low.

Some of those who traveled shared horror stories online about being sent to the front lines with insufficient weapons and ammunition, while recruitment suffered after a Russian missile strike destroyed a training center for these foreigners near the Western Ukrainian city of Lvov. 

"At the time, up to 180 foreign mercenaries and a large number of foreign weapons were destroyed," Konashenkov said.

  • Russia
  • Ukraine
  • Russian Defense Ministry
  • mercenaries
  • Mariupol
  • Kiev
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Israeli police and rescue teams respond at the scene of a shooting attack where several people killed and injured in Jerusalem, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 (AP)

Al-Quds shooting: 7 settlers killed, several critically injured

  • Politics
  • 8 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

Pro-'Israel' far-right Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
People protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, on Friday, September 27, 2024 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' stops unfunded diplomacy ahead of UN, October 7 memorial

An Israeli Air Force fighter jet releases flares over the Gaza Strip, is seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 8, 2025 (AP)
Politics

OIC summit draft: Israeli attack on Qatar risks normalization

People shout slogans and hold Palestinian flags while protesting during the twenty-first stage of La Vuelta cycling race from Alalpardo to Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP)
Sports

Pro-Palestine protests force abrupt end to Vuelta a España finale

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli regime faces growing isolation over Qatar strike: Reports

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS