Eduard Kaburneev, who serves as the first deputy chairman of the Russian Investigative Committee, reported at a Donetsk briefing that more than two thousand mercenaries from 71 nations have taken part in the hostilities against Russia in Ukraine. He spoke publicly alongside the head of the committee’s department, Alexander Bastrykin, and his remarks were shared by the press service of the Investigative Committee. The message underscored a multinational footprint in the conflict, highlighting a broad slate of participants whose nationalities ranged across several continents and who joined on the opposing side of the fighting. The briefing was described by Lenta.ru as reflecting the findings of ongoing inquiries into foreign involvement in the Ukrainian crisis.
Investigators involved in examining criminal cases tied to the presence of foreign fighters in Ukraine noted concrete figures for several nationalities. Their findings indicated that 366 Georgians, 234 citizens of the United States, 233 from the United Kingdom, 185 Syrians, and 70 Canadians had been detained in connection with their roles in the conflict. Additional nationals from other states were also identified as having traveled to or actively supported or participated in fighting on Ukrainian soil, according to the investigation process. The report paints a wider picture of foreign participation in the conflict, illustrating how several countries have become involved in varying capacities.
Former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was cited as stating that more than 2,500 mercenaries from other countries were currently actively engaged on the Ukrainian side. He claimed that the conflict had seen the use of terrorist tactics, including sabotage and high-profile killings, as part of the broader strategic approach. These assertions were presented as part of a broader assessment of the methods employed in the ongoing confrontation and the evolving security landscape in the region.
Additional reporting from the RIA Novosti agency, referencing a source within Russian law enforcement, noted an estimate of roughly 500 foreign mercenaries positioned on the right bank of the Dnieper in the Kherson region. The figures cited reflect the complex and rapidly changing dynamics of forces aligned on each side of the war, drawing attention to the international dimension of the conflict and the challenges faced by investigators documenting foreign involvement.
Across these statements, the overarching narrative points to a substantial foreign dimension in the Ukrainian conflict, with official channels emphasizing the scale of participation and the variety of nationalities involved. The ongoing inquiries aim to map the extent of foreign involvement, identify individuals who have traveled to the area, and understand the roles they played in the broader military and security context. Observers note that such information feeds into broader assessments of international security and regional stability, influencing how nations respond to the evolving crisis and how investigative bodies coordinate across borders to address cross-border activity tied to armed conflict.