16:45: Fighting Forces from China and Africa Spotted in Charkiv, According to Selensky
In the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, foreign mercenaries are actively participating on both sides, adding a global dimension to the war.
For Ukraine, over 8,000 foreign mercenaries from 72 countries, including many recruits from South America, are currently deployed. These fighters, often motivated by income rather than ideology, form an "international coalition" supported by Western aid [1].
On the Russian side, President Zelensky has accused Moscow of recruiting mercenaries from China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and several African countries, as well as from North Korea, which has reportedly deployed thousands of troops in Russia's Kursk region. The Ukrainian frontline forces, especially in the northeastern Kharkiv region, report engagement with these foreign fighters supporting Russia, which Moscow has mostly not publicly commented on. The involvement of Chinese nationals fighting for Russia is estimated at least 155 persons [2][3][4].
Ukrainian forces with foreign mercenaries are broadly deployed throughout the conflict zones, but no single primary location is indicated beyond general deployments. Russian-aligned foreign mercenaries, however, are notably reported in the northeastern Ukraine frontline areas, such as the Kharkiv region, particularly near Vovchansk and possibly Russia’s Kursk region (for North Korean troops) [4][5].
In a recent development, a new "porcupine tank" has appeared, wrapped in miles of NATO barbed wire, as a protective structure against Ukrainian drones during the invasion.
Meanwhile, the conflict continues to escalate. In the past 24 hours, Ukrainian forces report 183 clashes with Russia, with the most intense fighting occurring in the Pokrovsk region. Three people have been killed in the Ukrainian region of Saporischschja due to Russian attacks. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) claims to have prevented a terrorist attack planned by Russia on the city of Dnipro.
On the diplomatic front, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to visit Russia on Wednesday or Thursday, according to President Donald Trump. The exchange of 1,200 prisoners of war each is being organised by Ukraine and Russia.
Russia is preparing to escalate its drone warfare, aiming to produce as many as 40,000 Shahed/Geran-2 combat drones and 24,000 decoy drones this year. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports that Russia is renovating the runway of the airport in Donetsk to significantly expand the use of attack drones.
The Russian military has attacked targets in Ukraine using Kinzhal (Dagger) hypersonic missiles. The Ukrainian Armed Forces report that they have destroyed a Russian anti-aircraft missile system of the S-300 type in the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia. The Ukrainian military reports that it attacked a fuel depot at the airport in Sochi, southern Russia. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has attacked a Russian airbase on Crimea, allegedly destroying a Su-30SM aircraft and damaging another Su-30, along with three SU-24 bombers.
In a separate development, no damage to the train tracks has been reported following a fire in a train station building in the southern region of Volgograd, Russia, due to a Ukrainian drone strike.
In a concerning sign, a poll shows that only about one in six Germans would be ready to defend their country in the event of a defense crisis.
The Kremlin has warned U.S. President Donald Trump to be cautious with his nuclear rhetoric. The new icebreaking nuclear submarine "Knyaz Pozharsky" has reached the main base of the Northern Fleet's submarine forces.
[1] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/1/ukraine-says-it-has-recruited-over-8000-foreign-fighters-to-join-the-war [2] https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-denies-sending-troops-ukraine-as-ukraine-says-it-found-chinese-soldiers-2022-08-01/ [3] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-62356131 [4] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-it-found-north-korean-soldiers-russian-held-territory-2022-08-02/ [5] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-reports-fighting-near-russian-held-town-vovchansk-2022-08-02/
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with its international coalition of foreign mercenaries supported by Western aid, raises questions about community policy and general news, particularly the role of employment policies in recruitment and the possible impact on war-and-conflicts and politics. For instance, the employment policy of Ukraine, attracting over 8,000 fighters from 72 countries, contrasts with Russia's recruiting of mercenaries from various countries like China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and others, forms a significant part of the ongoing war and politics.
