Russian President, Putin, acknowledges the participation of French military personnel alongside Russian forces.
In a turn of events, Russian soldiers are fighting alongside French volunteers in Ukraine, as the French have named their unit "Normandie-Niemen," harking back to the WWII-era French fighter squadron that supported Soviet troops.
At a meeting with students commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany, Putin spoke about the continued friendship between Russia and certain Europeans. "There are many people who share our position," he said. "Some remain silent, few have the courage to express their opinion, but the situation will change," Putin asserted confidently.
Since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, the presence of foreign fighters in Russian and Ukrainian forces has been a contentious issue. North Korea is the only foreign country formally acknowledged as part of the conflict, with thousands of combatants in the Russian region of Kursk. However, Putin recently expressed his gratitude to North Korean soldiers for their "heroism and dedication" in Kursk.
According to South Korean sources, around 600 North Korean soldiers have lost their lives in combat alongside Russian forces. These statistics were shared by a South Korean parliamentarian after a meeting with the country's intelligence services. The conflict in Ukraine has now been ongoing for more than three years, with US-mediated peace talks still seeking a ceasefire.
The French government has accused Russian intelligence services of a large-scale cyberattack targeting public and private entities since years ago. Following these allegations, the Russian embassy in France has expressed regret over "unfounded accusations."
Interestingly, the current Normandie-Niemen unit in Ukraine appears to be a modern interpretation of the WWII-era French fighter squadron, which operated Soviet-provided Yak fighter planes on the Eastern Front and claimed 273 confirmed victories. The modern unit, operating on the Russian side of the conflict, claims to be carrying on the legacy of anti-fascist collaboration. However, this invocation of WWII symbolism is a point of contention, as NATO-aligned nations view Russia's actions in Ukraine as contrary to the principles the original Normandie-Niemen fought for.
- Putin expressed hope for continued friendship between Russia and certain Europeans, stating that many people share Russia's position, although some remain silent or hesitant to express their opinions.
- Amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine, the French have formed a unit named "Normandie-Niemen", reflecting the WWII-era French fighter squadron that supported Soviet troops, while operating on the Russian side of the conflict.
- The Russian government has been under scrutiny for cyberattacks against public and private entities in France, with the Russian embassy expressing regret over the "unfounded accusations."
- Sources suggest that the ongoing war-and-conflicts in Ukraine, including Russian operations and the presence of foreign fighters like the French Normandie-Niemen unit, are points of contention in global politics, particularly among NATO-aligned nations.
