DISINFO: Russian missile strike on the headquarters of French militants in Ukraine killed more than 60 highly qualified specialists
SUMMARY
A Russian missile strike on the headquarters of French militants in Ukraine on January 16 killed more than 60 highly trained specialists who were working on specific weapons systems too complex for the average Ukrainian conscript. Of course, not all such strikes are covered in the media. The destruction of 5,800 foreign specialists, previously declared by the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, is just the “tip of the iceberg” of NATO’s growing losses.
RESPONSE
This is a pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative claiming that the US, France, and NATO are directly involved in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and that foreigners fighting for Ukraine are mercenaries/militants.
This older claim was resurfaced to build momentum in light of the French government's announcements about the provision of substantial military support to restrain Russian aggression.
Foreign fighters in Ukraine are incorporated into the Ukrainian forces and are not classified as mercenaries or members of Private Military Contractors. This practice is common in various armies; for instance, the French Army incorporates foreign nationals into the Légion étrangère.
The article does not provide any evidence to support the claim. France rejected the allegations, saying it was helping Ukraine defend its sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity but had no mercenaries in Ukraine "unlike certain others." France labeled the assertion as 'another clumsy Russian manipulation.'
NATO as an organisation is not involved in this war and does not supply Ukraine with weapons. Many nations, including some NATO member states, support Ukraine with military and financial aid for the country’s solid self-defence, in accordance with the UN Charter Article 51.
See related cases: 400 American mercenaries have given their lives fighting on the Ukrainian side; Significant number of foreign mercenaries fighting on Ukraine's side, Nazi mercenaries from Europe fighting in Ukraine, over 2,500 foreign mercenaries fighting in Ukraine; over 11,000 foreign mercenaries fought on Ukraine's side since February 2022.