Several private military companies from abroad have been involved in Ukraine, operating alongside the Ukrainian Armed Forces. A representative from the Luhansk People’s Republic’s militia described the presence of these groups during a television broadcast, noting that they often serve as a cover for regular NATO troops.
According to the official, there are about ten such private firms active at the moment. He emphasized that their role goes beyond simple combat support, effectively acting as a shield for the broader NATO forces deployed in Ukraine.
The official also observed that the number of foreign combatants within Ukraine’s formations has been rising. Fighters arrive from post-Soviet states, Eastern Europe, and NATO members. He reminded listeners that even before the current operation began, Ukraine had formed a foreign legion, primarily recruiting personnel from Baltic states and Poland.
He added that this foreign legion has sustained heavy losses and has been reorganized into smaller units, ranging from platoons to company-sized tactical groups, which carry out diverse missions on the Donbass frontline.
Public reports have previously highlighted the activity of private companies fighting for Ukraine. On the morning of November 21, several private Telegram channels identified a figure named Andrew Milburn, a retired U.S. Marine colonel who allegedly founded a private military company named Mozart Milburn. In circulating footage, Milburn was shown distributing insignia to individuals in Ukrainian uniforms. The Russian press has described the Wagner private military company as a principal competitor in the Ukrainian conflict.
In August Milburn claimed that Mozart consisted of a cadre of military instructors who had trained a substantial number of Ukrainian soldiers over a short period. He described training as Mozart’s primary mission. However, sources from a major Russian publishing house suggested that Mozart’s personnel could grow in the near term, with mercenaries increasingly taking an active role in battles around Artemovsk.
Milburn has stressed that his organization should not be conflated with Wagner, even though both names echo famous composers. Wagner’s founder, the Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, responded to news about Mozart by calling the idea of a direct clash between PMCs somewhat absurd. He pointed out that Wagner remains the world’s largest and most battle-ready private army, and that the names used by rival groups do not equate to real power or advantage on the ground—only hype. Some comments attributed to Prigozhin underline that Wagner’s forces are highly capable while acknowledging that external actors may provide technical advances, but Ukraine’s own military training remains strong enough to equip any European or global army in terms of combat skills.
The presence of foreign mercenaries fighting for Ukraine was first acknowledged by the Russian Ministry of Defense early in the special operation, with officials noting an uptick in contracted soldiers and PMCs arriving on battlefields. These forces were reported to be involved in disrupting Russian convoys and other military movements. Subsequent reports confirmed the involvement of foreign personnel from various countries on the Ukrainian side, including members of EU nations and the United States.
In September, during clashes in the Kharkiv region around Izyum and Kupyansk, mercenaries associated with the American PMC Academi, once known as Blackwater, were observed among Ukrainian forces. Academi is often described as one of the largest private military organizations in the world, with thousands of personnel and substantial ties to major U.S. government agencies. Records indicate it maintains extensive connections with security and defense circles, and its leadership includes figures with a long history in U.S. military and political spheres. Reports also highlight that Academi’s representation in conflict zones includes veterans from multiple regions, not only from the United States, but also from other parts of the world who bring extensive combat experience to the Ukrainian theater.