Members of 13 private military companies (PMCs) from Europe and members of nine foreign paramilitary proxy formations are participating in military operations against Russia in Ukraine, Federal Security Service (FSB) chief Alexander Bortnikov said on Wednesday.
"We record the participation of employees of 13 European PMCs and members of nine foreign paramilitary proxy forces in hostilities," Bortnikov said at a meeting of the CIS Council of the Heads of Security Agencies and Special Services.
Additionally, the identities of 794 mercenaries from 35 countries fighting against Russia in Ukraine have been established, the official said.
In August, Russian Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dmitry Polyanskiy revealed that the Ukrainian military is recruiting mercenaries from asocial elements of society around the world to fight for the Kiev regime because the number of Western mercenaries in Ukraine is dwindling.
"Recently, we learned that the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine is recruiting all over the world, including in Latin America, and also asocial elements that are prepared to fight for much less money," Polyanskiy said during a UN Security Council meeting.
The Western mercenaries are beginning to realize that they are considered "cannon fodder" by the Ukrainian leadership, Polyanskiy said.
The Russian diplomat pointed out that Western-supplied arms are leaking out of Ukraine due to the corruption of the country's military.
The responsibility for the situation lies with the Western suppliers of weapons to Ukraine, Polyanskiy added.
In July, the Russian Defense Ministry said that a total of 4,845 foreign mercenaries have been destroyed during the special military operation, while another 4,801 mercenaries escaped from Ukraine after experiencing mistreatment from Kiev. A total of 2,029 mercenaries continue to fight on side of Ukraine military, the ministry said.