Russia claims West reluctant to answer about its mercenaries fighting in Ukraine

As ravaging war in Ukraine continues to escalate, Russian Foreign Ministry alleged that western nations are unwilling to respond to Moscow's questions over ir mercenaries in Kyiv. "Western countries are writing some provocative, boorish things. y don’t want to answer question we ask about ir activities," Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russian Foreign Ministry, told Rossiya-1 television channel, TASS news ncy reported. She stated this upon being asked wher United Kingdom and United States have contacted Russia concerning ir nationals who are participating in ongoing war in Ukraine. 

Zakharova also accused West of making every effort to prolong situation in Ukraine. "We remember what US 43rd President George Bush Jr said: Ukraine’s mission is to kill as many Russians as possible... y have endowed Ukraine and Kyiv regime with this duty. y are using Ukraine as an instrument and entire logistics are centred around that - weapons supplies, sending people, anything to keep conflict burning," she ded. 

Ukrainian forces killing foreign mercenaries in Lysychansk & Severodonetsk: LPR militia

Meanwhile, Lugansk People’s Republic’s (LPR) militia claimed that Ukrainian groups of forces that remain in Lysychansk and Severodonetsk have been killing foreign mercenaries. "Ukrainian militants have been ordered to kill foreign instructors in Lysychansk and Severodonetsk, as latter have certain information about activity of foreign special services in Donbass so that y do t get captured and disclosed this information," a source close to LPR militia told TASS. Meanwhile, last week, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Americans captured in Ukraine were "mercenaries" engd in illegal activities and should take responsibility for ir crimes. His statement came after two Americans were detained in pro-Russian region of Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR). 

Foreign mercenaries in Ukraine will face criminal charges: Russia

Earlier this month, Russian Defence Ministry stated that foreign mercenaries in Ukraine are t fighters and will face criminal charges. Major General Igor Konashenkov, a spokesperson for Russian Defence Ministry, claimed that mercenaries wish to leave Ukraine due to severe casualties inflicted during course of war, but Kyiv regime has t allowed m to do so. On June 2,  Russian Defence Ministry claimed that number of foreign combatants in Ukraine has dropped from 6,600 to around 3,500 as of w. 

Im: AP