Russian mercenaries have been deployed in separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine in recent weeks to bolster defenses against Ukrainian forces as tensions between Moscow and the West escalate, according to Reuters, citing four sources.
In recent weeks, Russia has moved tens of thousands of troops to positions near Ukraine and demanded urgent security guarantees from the West, designed, according to Moscow, to prevent Ukraine and other neighboring countries from being used as bases for attacks against her.
The West and Ukraine, for their part, have accused Russia of considering a new offensive against Ukraine as early as next month, something Moscow denies.
It is recalled that Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and supported pro-Russian separatists who occupied part of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine the same year and who continue to fight Ukrainian government forces there.
Of the four sources, three described the offers made to them by mercenaries to go to Donbass. They said the mercenaries did not disclose who they represented. All four sources declined to be named, citing fears for their safety.
Two of the three sources said they accepted the proposal, while the third source refused.
“They bring together all those who have combat experience,” said one of the two sources who accepted the proposal.
The Kremlin, for its part, says it has nothing to do with private military companies, whose actions it describes as volunteers with nothing to do with the state.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peshkov said: “This is the first time we have heard such a thing and we do not know how credible these allegations are.”
Peshkov also said that there were and never were Russian tactical forces or military advisers in eastern Ukraine and that Moscow was not considering sending such forces. Kiev disputes this and says that there are regular forces of the Russian army.
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Source From: Capital
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