A paramilitary commander has revealed that the recent cross-border incursion by Ukraine into Russia has disrupted the operations of Russian mercenaries in junta-led Burkina Faso.
Many of these fighters have been redeployed to bolster Moscow’s defenses in response to the Ukrainian attack.
Viktor Yermolaev, head of the Medvedi (Bears) paramilitary unit, disclosed in an interview with AFP that a significant number of his fighters have left Burkina Faso to return to Russia.
While some mercenaries remain in the West African country, the Ukrainian incursion has forced a strategic shift in their deployment.
The Ukrainian invasion of Russia’s western Kursk region earlier this month marked a new escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
The Bear Brigade, one of several mercenary groups operating under the umbrella of the Russian state, has been heavily involved in supporting the junta regime in Burkina Faso.
Yermolaev emphasized the importance of defending Russia’s homeland, stating that it is a paramount duty for any Russian warrior.
He acknowledged the challenges posed by the Ukrainian incursion and expressed his commitment to combating the threat.
The Bear Brigade’s Telegram channel announced earlier this week that it was returning to Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014.
Western intelligence sources estimate that around a hundred fighters from the unit have departed Burkina Faso.