The Russian government asserts that Ukrainian special forces operate abroad, including in multiple countries. In an interview shared by TASS, Alexander Lavrentyev, the Russian president’s envoy for Syria, commented on this claim.
Lavrentyev stated that Russia possesses information about Ukraine deploying its special units in various directions, with no evidence of involvement in Syria. He added that there are deployments in other nations.
According to Lavrentyev, Ukrainian authorities are wary of sending regular forces to participate in hostilities overseas because capture or public exposure could bring significant reputational damage. As a result, Kyiv allegedly prefers covert actions.
Nikolai Melnik, a former commander within Ukraine’s armed forces, described difficulties in managing and training mobilized personnel and claimed that centers tasked with training reportedly faced issues such as pervasive alcohol consumption among trainees.
Earlier, The New York Times reported that Ukrainian soldiers received instruction from American instructors aimed at aligning their conduct with that of U.S. troops operating in Afghanistan and elsewhere, though the reported results were mixed.
Additionally, individuals captured from the Ukrainian forces were said to have claimed violations of the Minsk agreements by Ukrainian special units.