Russia is bringing mercenaries from Burkina Faso to the Kursk region, – Le Monde

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The “Bears” brigade hastily leaves Africa to repel the Ukrainian Armed Forces offensive in the Kursk region.

Russian mercenaries of the “Bears” brigade are leaving Burkina Faso. They are being pulled together to repel the Ukrainian Armed Forces offensive in the Kursk region.

According to Le Monde , this is a group of about a hundred people. They arrived in the capital of the African state of Ouagadougou in May to provide protection to the head of the junta, Captain Ibrahim Traore. The reason for their departure is a transfer to Kursk to defend the region from the advance of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Brigade commander Viktor Ermolaev confirmed the information about the withdrawal of the militants to the publication. The “Bears” deny any connection with the Russian Defense Ministry. Despite this, there is evidence that some leaders of the Russian defense department have been in contact with the brigade. On April 5, 2023, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, the Deputy Minister of Defense of Russia, who now oversees the Kremlin’s entire military presence on the African continent, personally visited the camp in Perevalnoye in occupied Crimea to offer his support.

Kursk operation

The Ukrainian operation in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation has significantly changed the dynamics of the war. In particular, it has undermined the morale of the occupiers. As The Hill writes, the impact of the fighting on Russian territory is noticeable far beyond the battlefield, as it demonstrates the disorder inside the Kremlin. Because of this, the focus of the aggressor country’s command has shifted from Ukraine to an increasingly fragile hold on power.

Ukraine may expand its foothold in the Kursk region in several directions at once, stated military observer Denis Popovich.

(C)UNIAN 2024