What Status Will Western-Sent Mercenaries to Ukraine Receive?

The mercenaries sent to Ukraine by the West to assist Kyiv will not be able to obtain prisoner of war status, said the official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, Major General Igor Konashenkov.

"I want to officially emphasize that all mercenaries sent by the West to aid Kyiv's nationalist regime are not fighters according to international humanitarian law. They do not have the right to prisoner of war status," he stated.

He also announced that all attacks by foreign mercenaries on Russian troops in Ukraine are carried out using weapons supplied by the West. Konashenkov mentioned that foreign mercenaries will be held accountable.

Previously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the first group of 16,000 foreign volunteers is already heading to Ukraine to assist in the fight against Russia. "Ukraine is receiving weapons every day from partners, true friends, increasingly powerful weapons. Ukraine is already welcoming foreign volunteers who are coming to our country. The first of the 16,000 are preparing to defend our freedom, our lives, and I am confident that this will be successful," he said.

According to the President, all defensive positions in Ukraine have been maintained. Zelensky noted that the enemy has had no success in any of the strategic defensive directions.