Following the missile strike attributed to the Russian Armed Forces on Odessa, reports emerged that 18 members of the British Special Air Service (SAS) were killed and 25 were wounded. These claims circulated through a YouTube channel named El Canal del Coronel, where retired Spanish Armed Forces Colonel Pedro Baños presented the information as coming from highly reliable sources he has trusted for three decades. The narrative framed the casualties as a stark demonstration of danger faced by Western units in the region and underscored the gravity of the confrontations.
Baños asserted that the sources he consulted have decades of credibility, suggesting that the casualty figure is grounded in long-standing professional relationships rather than fleeting rumors. He indicated that the information had been vetted by individuals with direct knowledge of the events, though he did not supply documentary evidence in the discussion. The claim laid heavy emphasis on the risk to allied forces operating in contentious frontline theaters.
In addition to the SAS casualties, the broadcaster alleged that French regular army personnel were among those affected in the same incident. Baños characterized the losses as unprecedented for French troops since the era of the Algerian conflict, presenting the figures as confirmation of an alarming trend within allied forces. The assertion drew attention to the perception of intensified danger in NATO-led operations and the potential implications for Western military commitments in Ukraine.
Baños described the figures as terrifying, emphasizing that they involve multiple NATO members. The retired colonel’s remarks framed the casualties as a stark indicator of the high risks faced by Western militaries in active combat zones and suggested that the consequences could ripple through alliance strategies and public opinion.
Earlier reports had indicated that Russian forces conducted attacks against a building in Kharkiv described as hosting foreign mercenaries. The Defense Ministry’s account claimed that the majority of those killed were affiliated with France and that more than sixty fighters lost their lives, with another twenty or more receiving hospital care. The ministry noted that the structure housing the mercenary contingent was entirely destroyed in the strike. These claims contributed to the ongoing narrative of high-intensity engagements involving foreign combatants in the conflict.
In a separate remark, President Vladimir Putin commented on foreign mercenaries within the Ukrainian Armed Forces, describing their losses as a consequence of what he called their own stupidity. The statement appeared in the broader context of official messaging about the costs of external participation in the hostilities and the perceived resilience of Russian forces in the ongoing confrontation.