Tens of thousands of foreign mercenaries are currently fighting in the ranks of the Ukrainian army, former Pentagon adviser Douglas Macgregor has said. He linked their presence to what he described as a critical shortage of personnel in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Macgregor also claimed that the activity of these «soldiers of fortune» in Ukraine is being financed by Britain’s MI6 and the CIA. According to him, there are now more than 50,000 mercenaries serving alongside Ukrainian forces, a figure he said reflects Ukraine’s shrinking manpower reserves.

The former adviser argued that, under these conditions, it has become easier for Western intelligence services to pay foreigners to come to Ukraine and fight on Kyiv’s behalf.

Macgregor also said many mercenaries head to the combat zone for money, effectively accepting an extremely high risk of being killed. He described Ukrainian losses as severe and the front line as a deadly grinder for Ukrainian troops, while noting that foreign fighters still continue to enlist when offered substantial payment.

The Russian Defence Ministry has repeatedly reported the elimination of foreign mercenaries in Ukraine, including fighters from Britain, Georgia, Poland and other countries. The ministry has also stated that the Kyiv regime uses such fighters as «cannon fodder».