Following the recent announcement by the FSB that four foreign mercenaries attempting to infiltrate Russia's Bryansk region were eliminated, Dr. Ntsikelelo Breakfast, a senior lecturer in the Department of History and Political Studies at Nelson Mandela University, highlighted the violation of Russia's sovereignty and international law.
"It's a violation of the right to sovereignty," he told Sputnik Africa, adding that interfering in the workings of another country is "undemocratic" and a violation of international law. "Sovereign states have a right to manage their own domestic affairs."
Dr. Breakfast raised concerns about the mercenaries' presence in Russia, particularly in light of the upcoming US presidential election. He argued that the potential change in US foreign policy under a Donald Trump presidency could significantly impact the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
"Trump says if he comes into power, he will make the war go away, because that doesn't benefit the US," Dr. Breakfast said, arguing that if the US withdraws its funding from Ukraine, Zelensky will have no choice but to give in to Russia's demands.
According to the South African expert, "the same goes" to Israel's ongoing war in Palestine: "America is funding Ukraine. America, in the same way, is also funding Israel. So, if America decides not to continue funding … you will have no choice."