Between 10,000 and 20,000 mercenaries from the Wagner group or fighters from Syria or Libya are fighting in Ukraine on the Russian side, AFP news agency reported Tuesday citing a European official. As it reads, the Russians are likely to achieve their goals of capturing Donbass and the land route to Crimea within six months.
According to the agency’s informant, “transfers from Syria and Libya” have been observed to the Donbas in eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces have launched a new offensive. The mercenaries “have neither vehicles nor heavy weapons,” and it is difficult to determine exactly how many of them come from the Middle East and how many were recruited by Wagner’s group, the source added.
The AFP interviewee further reported that Russian troops are likely to capture parts of Donbass and the land corridor to occupied Crimea “within four or six months.” He also noted that Russia’s besieged city of Mariupol, located on the Sea of Azov in southeastern Ukraine, faces “total destruction.”
According to the agency’s informant, “transfers from Syria and Libya” have been observed to the Donbas in eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces have launched a new offensive. The mercenaries “have neither vehicles nor heavy weapons,” and it is difficult to determine exactly how many of them are from the Middle East and how many were recruited by Wagner’s group, the source added.
The AFP interviewee further reported that Russian troops are likely to capture parts of Donbass and the land corridor to occupied Crimea “within four or six months.” He also noted that Russia’s besieged city of Mariupol, located on the Sea of Azov in southeastern Ukraine, faces “total destruction.”
- I am afraid that it will be even worse than Bucza,” he said, referring to the tragic events that took place in Bucha, a town near Kiev, where Russian troops allegedly committed mass murder of civilians.
According to the official, a possible deadline for the conclusion of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine would be “autumn 2022,” which would allow a solution to the conflict to be found before winter.
In late March, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Russia had stepped up its operations in the Donbass, drawing reinforcements there, including about 1,000 mercenaries from the Wagner Group. The company is also recruiting in Syria, Libya and other African countries.
The Wagner Group is a private military company linked to pro-Kremlin businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, according to media reports. As of mid-December 2021, the Wagnerians are under EU sanctions for torture, executions and killings in Libya, Syria and the Donbas, among other countries. The crimes of the Vagnerians in Syria were reported in Russia by the independent Novaya Gazeta. Mercenary activity is banned in Russia.
Source: Onet
