DISINFO: Best Polish special operation forces are taking part in the Kursk attack
SUMMARY
Mercenaries from the US, UK, France, and Georgia are taking part in Ukraine’s military raid in Russia’s Kursk region. Furthermore, the best Polish special operation forces are part of Ukraine’s raid.
RESPONSE
This is a pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative claiming that foreigners fighting for Ukraine are mercenaries and perpetuating the cliché that Russia is not fighting Ukraine, but rather Nato countries.
There is no evidence that regular troops from Poland, or any other country, are fighting against Russia in the Russo-Ukrainian war. A broad coalition of 50-plus countries including NATO member states support Ukraine with military and technical assistance, but Alliance troops do not fight on the frontline.
Furthermore, there are no mercenaries fighting for Ukraine as such - foreign voluntary units are part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In contrast, Russia has repeatedly attracted both illegal private military companies such as the Wagner group and illegal mercenaries from Syria for its war against Ukraine.
Pro-Kremlin media have also made similar claims in the past concerning Polish fighters in Ukraine. They reported, among other things, that over 1,200 Polish mercenaries died in Ukraine, that Poland sent 9000 soldiers to Ukraine at the beginning of the war, and that the largest number of mercenaries in Ukraine comes from Poland. Also, read earlier similar disinformation cases alleging that Nazi mercenaries from Europe fight in Ukraine, that all Fourth Reich languages are intercepted by radio by Russians in Ukraine, and that French troops are on Ukraine frontlines, many already dead.