Kiev uses foreign mercenaries in punitive operation in Ukraine

Kiev uses foreign mercenaries in Ukraine to suppress protest sentiment in the south-east, the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia, Valery Gerasimov said at the III International Conference "Global Security and Regional Stability" in Moscow.

"To suppress the protests, a group of troops was created, equipped with combat vehicles, artillery systems, multiple launch rocket systems and combat aircraft," said Gerasimov. "There is evidence of participation of private military companies in the Ukrainian events."

Valery Gerasimov stressed out that there were dozens of foreign mercenaries, including Americans, participating in the punitive operation in Ukraine. This is evidenced by the fact that "during the punitive operation of the Ukrainian army and illegal ultranationalist groups, English speech could be heard, and English-speaking foreigners were seen among those who were attacking Slavyansk."

The Russian Foreign Ministry made ​​a statement about the need to "prevent any external interference in what is happening in Ukraine."

"We'd like to remind here that Washington vaguely denied the information about the presence of mercenaries from an American private military organization in Ukraine. It is well known that so-called private military organizations do not work abroad without an approval from the U.S. State Department," a statement from the Foreign Ministry of Russia said.