Russian Official Claims Western Professionals Leaving Ukrainian Armed Forces, Says Untrained Mercenaries Filling Gap

Rodion Miroshnik, the Russian Foreign Ministry's Ambassador-at-Large, said that Western professionals are leaving the Ukrainian armed forces, according to a report by Russian state news agency TASS.

Miroshnik was quoted as saying that these professionals decided to leave because they realized the conflict was "by no means a safari-like adventure," a reference to the risks involved in continued service.

According to Miroshnik, as experienced Western personnel depart, their positions are being filled by untrained mercenaries, though the TASS report did not specify further details on the nationalities, numbers, or roles of these replacements.

The claims were made by a Russian government official and reported through Russian state media. TASS did not cite independent sources, and Ukrainian officials were not quoted in the report. The statement has not been independently verified, and Kiev has not issued a public response to these specific claims as reported.

Russian officials have repeatedly made statements about the composition and morale of foreign fighters and volunteers supporting Ukraine's military throughout the ongoing conflict. Such claims from Russian state-affiliated sources are frequently disputed or unaddressed by Ukrainian and Western officials.