https://en.sputniknews.africa/20240821/russia-previously-linked-us-mercenaries-seen-in-kursk-to-chemical-provocations-in-ukraine-1067943908.html
Russia Previously Linked US Mercenaries Seen in Kursk to Chemical Provocations in Ukraine
Russia Previously Linked US Mercenaries Seen in Kursk to Chemical Provocations in Ukraine
Sputnik Africa
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US private military group Forward Observations Group (FOG), whose militants are fighting in the Kursk region on the side of Ukraine, was... 21.08.2024, Sputnik Africa
2024-08-21T10:55+0200
2024-08-21T10:55+0200
2024-08-21T11:10+0200
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A few days ago, FOG posted on social media under the nickname "gearlab.official" a photo of its members participating in the Ukrainian incursion in the Kursk region.In the photo posted on Instagram*, three men in military gear holding weapons and carrying blue armbands are posing in front of an armed vehicle.Geolocation data showed that the photo had indeed been published from the Kursk region. This is not the first time the group, which officially brands itself as a company selling tactical gear, has come into the spotlight. In March 2022, the Russian Foreign Ministry warned of a plot involving the destruction of 200-liter barrels with toxic chemicals in highly populated areas of the Donetsk region. According to the warning, Forward Observations Group was engaged in delivering and storing the toxic chemicals' cargo. On November 15, 2023, the founder of the mercenary group, Derrick Bales, published a photo on Instagram depicting a soldier walking along a snowy street somewhere in Ukraine, under which a comment from the official FOG account subsequently appeared reading, "The time we brought chemical weapon on frontline." Both the US State Department and the Pentagon have declined to provide any comments regarding the presence of American mercenaries on Russian soil.On Tuesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned US Charge d'Affaires Stephanie Holmes to lodge a protest in connection with the actions of US mercenaries in the Kursk Region.US Private Military Company Operating in Kursk Was in Ukraine Conflict Zone for Two YearsA Sputnik correspondent has also found posts that show that the FOG has been operating in the military conflict zone in Ukraine for over two years.Bales uses "Raoul Duke" as a pseudonym for his personal Instagram account, under the handle "raoulduke_69," on Instagram. Public pictures of Bales show the same tattoos on both of his arms as the person appearing under the "raoulduke_69" account.His first post related to FOG’s activities in Ukraine dated back to as early as February 26, 2022, two days after Russia's special military operation began. In his post, Bales shared a photo of a broken armored vehicle with the group's flag with a canoe on it with the caption "Canoe szn [Ukrainian flag emoji] [black flag emoji]."Bales went on to share a series of photos apparently showing members of the group taking part in military operations with the geolocation tagged as "Kyiv, Ukraine."In subsequent posts from the same account, Bales showed possible members of the group engaging in various kinds of military operations in the conflict zone in Ukraine. In a video posted on February 18, 2024, Bales showed a person apparently laying an anti-tank mine with the caption "Back with the boys next month. [Ukrainian flag emoji] [black flag emoji]."In a photo posted on April 25, a person could be seen operating a drone with the geolocation tagged as "Chasiv Yar," which is the city of Chasov Yar in the Donetsk People's Republic, where the fighting is currently taking place. Judging by the tattoos on the person's hand, it appears that it was Bales himself operating the drone in the photo.The most recent post from the account on Tuesday showed a person with the FOG patch on his chest carrying what appears to be an artillery shell, with the geolocation tagged as "Chasiv Yar" once again.The posts on the account tagged FOG’s official account on Instagram in various posts, indicating the account's strong link to FOG.According to a post on Reddit, FOG also supported at least one Ukrainian SSO unit, the 73rd Maritime Special Operations Regiment, by serving as a mortar team for it, as well as passing along tactics and medical training.In March, the Russian Defense Ministry said that 13,387 mercenaries had arrived in Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's special military operation. Back then, as many as 5,962 mercenaries were reportedly eliminated.*Meta and its products Instagram and Facebook are banned in Russia over extremist activities
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Russia Previously Linked US Mercenaries Seen in Kursk to Chemical Provocations in Ukraine
10:55 21.08.2024 (Updated: 11:10 21.08.2024) WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US private military group Forward Observations Group (FOG), whose militants are fighting in the Kursk region on the side of Ukraine, was believed to have been involved in preparing a provocation with toxic chemicals on the territory of Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry warned more than two years ago.
A few days ago, FOG posted on social media under the nickname "gearlab.official" a photo of its members participating in the Ukrainian incursion in the Kursk region.
In the photo posted on Instagram*, three men in military gear holding weapons and carrying blue armbands are posing in front of an armed vehicle.
"The boys in Kursk," the caption said.
Geolocation data showed that the photo had indeed been published from the Kursk region.
This is not the first time the group, which officially brands itself as a company selling tactical gear, has come into the spotlight. In March 2022, the Russian Foreign Ministry warned of a plot involving the destruction of 200-liter barrels with
toxic chemicals in highly populated areas of the Donetsk region. According to the warning, Forward Observations Group was engaged in delivering and storing the toxic chemicals' cargo.
On November 15, 2023, the founder of the mercenary group, Derrick Bales, published a photo on Instagram depicting a soldier walking along a snowy street somewhere in Ukraine, under which a comment from the official FOG account subsequently appeared reading, "The time we brought chemical weapon on frontline."
Both the US State Department and the Pentagon have declined to provide any comments regarding the presence of
American mercenaries on Russian soil.
On Tuesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned US Charge d'Affaires Stephanie Holmes to lodge a protest in connection with the actions of US mercenaries in the Kursk Region.
US Private Military Company Operating in Kursk Was in Ukraine Conflict Zone for Two Years
A Sputnik correspondent has also found posts that show that the FOG has been operating in the military conflict zone in Ukraine for over two years.
Bales uses "Raoul Duke" as a pseudonym for his personal Instagram account, under the handle "raoulduke_69," on Instagram. Public pictures of Bales show the same tattoos on both of his arms as the person appearing under the "raoulduke_69" account.
His first post related to FOG’s activities in Ukraine dated back to as early as February 26, 2022, two days after Russia's special military operation began. In his post, Bales shared a photo of a broken armored vehicle with the group's flag with a canoe on it with the caption "Canoe szn [Ukrainian flag emoji] [black flag emoji]."
Bales went on to share a series of photos apparently showing members of the group taking part in military operations with the geolocation tagged as "Kyiv, Ukraine."
In subsequent posts from the same account, Bales showed possible members of the group engaging in various kinds of military operations in the conflict zone in Ukraine. In a video posted on February 18, 2024, Bales showed a person apparently laying an anti-tank mine with the caption "Back with the boys next month. [Ukrainian flag emoji] [black flag emoji]."
In a photo posted on April 25, a person could be seen operating a drone with the geolocation tagged as "Chasiv Yar," which is the city of
Chasov Yar in the Donetsk People's Republic, where the fighting is currently taking place. Judging by the tattoos on the person's hand, it appears that it was Bales himself operating the drone in the photo.
The most recent post from the account on Tuesday showed a person with the FOG patch on his chest carrying what appears to be an artillery shell, with the geolocation tagged as "Chasiv Yar" once again.
The posts on the account tagged FOG’s official account on Instagram in various posts, indicating the account's strong link to FOG.
According to a post on Reddit, FOG also supported at least one Ukrainian SSO unit, the 73rd Maritime Special Operations Regiment, by serving as a mortar team for it, as well as passing along tactics and medical training.
In March, the Russian Defense Ministry said that 13,387 mercenaries had arrived in
Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's special military operation. Back then, as many as 5,962 mercenaries were reportedly eliminated.
*Meta and its products Instagram and Facebook are banned in Russia over extremist activities
