Russia has deployed up to 20,000 mercenaries from Syria, Libya and elsewhere in its new offensive in Ukraine’s Donbas region, sent into battle with no heavy equipment or armoured vehicles, according to a European official.
The official said the estimates of mercenary involvement on the ground in eastern Ukraine range from 10,000 to 20,000 and that it was hard to break down that figure between Syrians, Libyans and other fighters recruited by the Russian mercenary company, the Wagner Group.
#Ukraine: Ukrainian Indirect fire struck Russian positions in #Kharkiv Oblast. As a result, a tank (Claimed to be T-72B3) was destroyed, and others were likely damaged. pic.twitter.com/hNFyASyoud
— 🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) April 19, 2022
#Ukraine: Drone footage showing a precise hit by the Ukrainian artillery on Russian armor somewhere in the East – a tank and one more vehicle appear to be destroyed. pic.twitter.com/CQUmy3OvMV
— 🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) April 18, 2022
