The Russian Defense Ministry has published data about the foreign mercenaries fighting on Ukraine’s side, saying that while 6,956 have arrived in Ukraine since February 24 when the war started, 1,956 died in battles, while 1,779 left the country.
The data published on Friday shows that out of the 1,956 dead, 38 out of the 85 Nigerians who heeded the call from Kiev to join a “foreign legion” to defeat Russia have been killed while fighting.
The data also show that 35 have returned to Nigeria with 12 are still fighting.
As of Friday, at least 3,221 foreigners are fighting on the Ukrainian side, Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said at a press briefing in Moscow.
The foreign fighters suffer heavy losses due to the low level of training and the lack of combat experience, he said.
Also, the Ukrainian military chiefs, protecting their soldiers, are throwing mercenaries to the most difficult war zones.
On Thursday, Konashenkov said at a press briefing in Moscow that “due to the Kyiv regime’s hush-up of losses and the absence of remains, relatives of mercenaries in the countries of residence simply do not know about their deaths.
“Facing a real combat situation and heavy losses among the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, a significant number of mercenaries prefer to leave the territory of Ukraine as soon as possible, but the Kyiv regime in every way prevents them from leaving abroad,” Konashenkov said.
He noted that the Ministry traces and notes the arrival of every mercenary in Ukraine.
“Currently, not only mercenaries, directly taking part in hostilities as part of Ukrainian troops, are put in our databases, we also count instructors, arrived to teach, provide assistance in the operation and repair of Western weapons supplied to Ukraine,” the spokesman noted.
