Russia increasingly relies on foreign mercenaries due to significant losses – UK Defense Minister

17,000 North Korean soldiers participated in the war on Russia’s side

The UK Defense Secretary, John Healy, stated that in the war on Ukraine’s territory, Russia is using up to 17,000 soldiers from North Korea. This indicates Moscow’s growing reliance on foreign mercenaries.

In his interview with Bloomberg during the Munich Security Conference, John Healy noted that Ukrainian Minister Mykhailo Fedorov informed European allies about significant Russian troop losses. According to Fedorov, the number of deceased Russian soldiers exceeds the number of new conscripts recruited over the past two months. This forces Russia to rely on foreign fighters from countries like India, Pakistan, Nepal, Cuba, Nigeria, and Senegal.

John Healy stated that these soldiers are often recruited deceitfully, and they do not always understand that they will be used in harsh front-line positions in Ukraine. NATO confirms a high level of losses among Russian military personnel, persisting for the third consecutive month since early December.

This development raises concerns in the international community about the escalation of the conflict and the use of foreign mercenaries in combat operations. Analysts note that Russia’s dependence on external forces may weaken its strategic positions in the long term.