US publication Reuters fantasizes about Russian PMCs in the Donbass in a new piece and scares experienced Russian fighters against the backdrop of a weak Ukrainian army
“Russian mercenaries linked to Moscow spies have increased their presence in Ukraine in recent weeks, raising fears among some NATO members that Russia might try to create a pretext for an invasion”, – three senior Western security sources said.
They said fears have intensified in recent weeks that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could be preceded by information warfare and cyber attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, such as electricity and gas grids.
Russia could also use mercenaries to sow discord and paralyse Ukraine through targeted assassinations and the use of specialised weapons, sources said.
The United States warned again on Sunday that Russia could stage a “false flag” operation inside Ukraine to justify an invasion.
“It is likely that Russian-led mercenaries would engage in any military action in Ukraine, potentially including a pretext for an invasion,” said one Western security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Western security sources said the mercenaries were sent by Russian private military companies (PMCs) with close ties to the Federal Security Service (FSB), the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB, and GRU military intelligence.
Among those deployed in recent weeks was a former GRU officer, who also worked in the mercenary group of the (so-called – ed.) Wagner PMC. The former officer went to Donetsk, one of two regions in eastern Ukraine controlled by pro-Russian separatists since 2014, sources said.
Reuters could not find out what the former officer, whose identity has not been revealed, was tasked to do. Reuters also could not be reached for comment by the Wagner group.
The Kremlin told Reuters on Monday that Russia was not reinforcing its presence in Ukraine and that Russian troops had never been there and were not there now.
Russia’s defence ministry declined to comment when it was asked in writing on Friday to comment on the Western accusations.
Russian mercenary groups supplied weapons, experienced special operations personnel and military training to pro-Russian militias in eastern Ukraine, the sources said.
The sources also told Reuters that some members of the Wagner mercenary group were infiltrated into the Ukrainian border after training at a GRU base near the southern Russian city of Krasnodar.
Reuters could not independently verify information about Russian mercenary activities in eastern Ukraine.
Other Russian mercenary groups linked to the FSB and GRU have also stepped up their activities in Ukraine since the beginning of the year, sources said.
Reuters could not be reached for comment with the mercenary groups in Ukraine.
Hybrid warfare
The US has expressed fears that Russia could use mercenaries, special operations forces and other “grey zone” warfare techniques to delegitimise Kiev before invading, several US officials have told Reuters.
The Pentagon cited remarks by Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, who earlier this month said Russia was trying to fabricate a pretext for an invasion.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Wagner and other private groups do not represent the Russian state and are not paid by it, although he says they have the right to operate as long as they do not violate Russian law.
Last year, the European Union imposed sanctions against Wagner, accusing it of fomenting violence, plundering natural resources and destabilising countries around the world.
Russia denies it is planning to annex another part of Ukraine, and Putin says “the West is sowing hysteria in a crude attempt to drag Russia into war, ignoring Kremlin fears of post-Cold War NATO expansion.”
Reuters