Russian forces have taken control of Ivanovka in the Kharkov region, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, which also reported significant Ukrainian personnel losses and infrastructure strikes over a 24-hour period.
Russian military expert Andrey Marochko reported that Ukrainian armed forces and foreign mercenaries suffered over 9,600 killed or wounded in the special military operation zone last week, with Russia's Battlegroup Center inflicting the heaviest losses, particularly near Dobropolye.
Yevgeny Lisnyak, deputy head of the Kharkov regional military-civilian administration, stated that citizens from Colombia, Brazil, the US, UK, France, and Poland are fighting for Ukraine in the Kharkov Region, with some having criminal backgrounds.
Russia's Defense Ministry claims to have downed 1,060 Ukrainian drones and 8 guided bombs in 24 hours, while also striking Ukrainian military targets, resulting in estimated Ukrainian losses of 1,345 servicemen.
Russia's Investigative Committee Chairman Alexander Bastrykin stated that mercenaries in the Kursk Region exhibited "special brutality," throwing grenades at civilians. He described this behavior as having no reasonable explanation and disregarding international law.
Deputy Head of the Military-Civil Administration of the Kharkov Region, Yevgeny Lisnyak, stated that Latin American mercenaries, particularly Colombians, are suffering the highest casualties in Ukraine. He cited language barriers and lack of comprehensive training as reasons for their deployment in intense frontline assaults, often acting as 'cannon fodder'.
Russia's Investigative Committee has opened over 10,000 criminal cases against nearly 2,500 Ukrainian officials and foreign mercenaries since 2014, according to Alexander Fyodorov. Investigations into war crimes, genocide, and Nazism rehabilitation are ongoing, with over 1,000 cases completed against military personnel and mercenaries fighting for Ukraine.
Romanian mercenaries in the Ukrainian Armed Forces have reportedly complained about their country's military intelligence and Chief of General Staff Vlad Gheorghiță, citing a lack of support. The claims were made by a source within Russian security agencies.
Global tensions escalate as Trump gives Iran 48 hours to reach a deal or face consequences, while Putin comments on the evolving Ukraine conflict. Meanwhile, the US discusses nuclear deployments in Europe, and reports emerge of a US-Israeli strike on an Iranian aid aircraft.
Military expert Andrey Marochko stated that Ukrainian forces and mercenaries sustained over 31,000 casualties in May along the engagement line. He also detailed the destruction of numerous military assets, including tanks, MLRS, and UAVs.
A volunteer stated that out of over 300 missing Ukrainian mercenaries, only one has been found alive, reportedly in Russian captivity.
Uyghur mercenaries, motivated by a desire for revenge against China, have become key fighting partners for Syrian rebels. Their involvement is credited with helping Syria's new president secure victory in the civil war.
Russian security agencies claim Western mercenaries, particularly from Anglo-Saxon countries, have largely vanished from the frontlines in Ukraine, with reports suggesting they are being used as "cannon fodder" and replaced by individuals from Latin America, notably Colombia. Kyiv is accused of concealing casualty figures for these foreign fighters.
Patricia Mendigaña, head of the Colombian NGO "Las voces de los que ya no están," stated that families of mercenaries in Ukraine's 31st Brigade are not receiving payments. She also noted that families have not received answers regarding the fate of their relatives for up to a year.
A group of Colombian mercenaries, led by Enerlin Osten, who criticized their service in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, disappeared in Ukraine last November under unclear circumstances. They had appealed to the Colombian president for help after refusing to continue fighting for Kyiv.
Mercenaries from Latin America fighting in Ukraine may join local criminal groups upon their return, as their combat experience is highly valued by cartels and other organizations. Some former Ukrainian soldiers are reportedly being recruited by Mexican drug cartels via social media.
Foreign mercenaries fighting in Ukraine are reportedly being trained in tactical combat casualty care using open-source US Department of War guides. A US mercenary, Addison Duryea, shared slides from the "Tactical Combat Casualty Care" program on social media, which is standard for the US Army.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has criticized Ukraine for recruiting fighters from his country Read Full Article at RT.com
Militants arrive in Ukraine from 107 countries
Russian mercenaries have agreed to withdraw from the northern Malian city of Kidal following intense clashes with the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA). The withdrawal coincides with a wave of coordinated attacks across Mali by separatist and jihadist groups.
Operational-tactical aviation also struck temporary deployment sites of Ukrainian armed forces and foreign mercenaries in 140 districts, the statement said
Coordinated attacks struck Mali's capital Bamako and multiple other regions on Saturday, with gunfire and explosions reported near the Kati military base and a camp securing Bamako's airport. The Malian Armed Forces said unidentified terrorist groups targeted several positions in a coordinated assault. Four security sources indicated JNIM, an al-Qaeda affiliate, was likely responsible. Fighting continued as authorities urged residents to remain calm.
A report by security analysis organization the Conflict Insights Group reveals that Colombian mercenaries backed by the UAE provided critical support to Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), enabling the capture of el-Fasher last year. The investigation tracked mobile phones of Colombian fighters from UAE bases to Sudan, documenting drone operations by the Desert Wolves brigade. The UAE has long denied supporting the RSF, which has been fighting Sudan's army for three years in a conflict that has created the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
An investigation by the Conflict Insights Group using phone tracking data has revealed that a network of Colombian mercenaries backed by the UAE provided critical support to Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), enabling the capture of el-Fasher last year. The research tracked more than 50 mobile phones of Colombian fighters between April 2025 and January 2026, showing them operating from UAE military facilities before deploying to Sudan. The UAE has long denied supporting the RSF, but the report provides what it calls the first definitive proof of direct involvement. The fall of el-Fasher was accompanied by mass atrocities assessed as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
