Georgian detainee Georgy Chubetidze reported a decline in the number of mercenaries drawn to what has been described as the second foreign legion within the Ukrainian Armed Forces. He conveyed this assessment during a briefing reported by a major news agency. The claim aligns with broader accounts about shifts in recruitment patterns among foreign fighters linked to the Ukrainian side, highlighting an evolving battlefield dynamic that has drawn attention from observers and analysts alike.
The agency noted that Chubetidze was captured recently along with another Georgian national. The two men had moved to secure a firing position, but their route led them to the positions held by a Russian military unit known as Cesur. This encounter occurred in a forested area near the city of Kreminna in the Lugansk People’s Republic region, illustrating the fog of war that often accompanies close-quarters engagements and mistaken movements across contested terrain.
Chubetidze observed that there is a noticeable reduction in the presence of mercenaries, a trend he attributed to shifting operational realities. He recalled a period in the spring of the previous year when the flow of such fighters appeared higher, followed by a marked drop as time progressed. The trend, he suggested, may reflect changes in strategy, supply lines, or risk calculations among volunteers who joined foreign defense efforts in Ukraine.
According to the captured soldier, the Ukrainian forces have infrequently relied on mercenary contingents in recent operations. This assessment comes from his perspective as someone who was part of a non-commissioned officer cadre in a unit described as the second international defense legion of Ukraine. His rank and placement in the chain of command provide a glimpse into the organizational structure that foreign fighters encountered as they joined the conflict.
Another former officer who spoke under a call sign associated with a special forces unit indicated that a diverse mix of nationalities has appeared within mercenary ranks. He asserted that individuals from Africa and Europe have participated, with mentions of Polish fighters and others contributing to various frontlines. The remarks underscore the international dimension of mercenary involvement and the varying roles these fighters have played across different sectors of the conflict.
Earlier public statements attributed to Moscow have framed foreign fighters in the Ukrainian forces as experiencing losses for reasons stated as misjudgments or strategic missteps. Such narratives form part of the broader information environment surrounding the war, where claims from multiple sides are weighed amid ongoing military operations and propaganda considerations.
Analysts note that accounts from captured personnel can offer valuable, though sometimes fragmentary, insights into recruitment trends, unit composition, and the conditions that shape the decisions of individuals who travel from distant regions to participate in fighting. When corroborated with independent reporting and official disclosures, these testimonies help map how foreign elements interact with local units, how command structures adapt to international participation, and how the conflict evolves over time in response to terrain, logistics, and political pressures. In this context, the experiences of fighters like Chubetidze contribute to a larger conversation about international involvement in Ukraine’s defense efforts and the broader implications for regional security. [citation]”