As of: March 7, 2024, 3:29 p.m
By: Lisa Mahnke
Comments
Press
Split
A Russian propagandist films an alleged mercenary from China.
It sounds like a message of joy - but it could show a problem for Putin.
Donetsk - Russia recently set up its first official volunteer corps - now Chinese mercenaries are supposed to be fighting for Russia.
“There is no language barrier!
A volunteer from the People's Republic of China communicates with the commander of the Interbrigade 'Pyatnashka' using an online translator,” says a Telegram message from Russian military correspondent Pavel Kukushkin, which was probably intended as a success story.
The video of the message does not make it possible to determine with certainty whether the Russian-speaking person's counterpart is from China, as they do not speak in the published excerpt.
The supposedly Chinese person simply nods and then hands the cell phone back.
Her face is also only partially visible; it is mostly obscured by a hat and the camera angle.
However, an artificial translator's voice can be heard - and a Chinese-Russian badge can be seen on the person's sleeve.
“Chinese brothers” in Putin’s Ukraine invasion army?
“Chinese unity in the Pyatnashka Brigade is growing.
More and more are arriving.
Our Chinese brothers have also come to us,” the Telegram video says, according to
Newsweek
.
Where and when the video was filmed is unknown.
The news about suspected Chinese mercenaries comes shortly after the Indian government
confirmed the recruitment of Indian men by Russia, according to
AFP .
They were lured with a Russian passport and money and some did not go to the Ukraine front of their own free will, it was said from Delhi.
For Russia’s “meat attacks” in the Ukraine war?
Rumors about foreign mercenaries were already circulating
The US Department of Defense wrote two years ago that Russian officers were allegedly recruiting Syrian mercenaries.
One official said it was notable that Putin "has to rely on foreign fighters to supplement."
Already at this point, the US representative estimated the activation of Russian combat power in the Ukraine war at 100 percent, according to the Defense Ministry.
My news
“Lesson from the Ukraine War”: Sweden wants to protect its fighter jets like in the Cold War
Medvedev calls for the killing of Germans: Read Putin's game with “German Angst”.
2 hours ago
Putin propagandist wants to destroy four German counterparts for Crimean bridge
Lang confronts the simmering hatred of the Greens on TV: “If you find me sick…” read
USA confirms: Sweden should become a NATO member today
Brutal videos: Ukrainians use Bradley tanks to slow down Putin's merciless "Banzai" tactics
Ukrainian intelligence also wrote in February about alleged recruitments due to the alleged high Russian losses.
These are an indication of a “deterioration in the moral and psychological condition of the Russian occupying troops”.
Russia first offers Syrian men jobs as oil refinery guards and then gradually brings them into the Russian army.
During the course of the war in Ukraine, so-called “flesh attacks” were repeatedly reported, in which large numbers of poorly equipped soldiers were sent to the front line.
Ukrainian intelligence speculated that suspected Syrian mercenaries were mainly used for attacks of this type.
Putin's propaganda line prevents mobilization: “Information bubble would burst”
Given the volunteer corps, it seems likely that at least other nations will be represented in parts of the Russian fighters.
In addition to the integration of former Wagner soldiers, one rumored plan was to attempt recruitment in African countries.
According to
Newsweek,
citizens of former Soviet republics have also been courted in recent months.
Putin is avoiding direct mass mobilization in Russia.
© IMAGO / ZUMA Wire / Artem Priakhin
Vladimir Putin is currently refraining from mass mobilization, probably also in view of the upcoming Russian election.
The first wave of mobilization was already met with protest among the population.
Some opposition politicians who took a position against the Ukraine war became so popular.
Russian-born political economist Konstantin Sonin told
Newsweek
that Putin is avoiding a wave of mobilization in no small part because of the propaganda narrative of a limited military operation.
“Publicly announcing a mobilization would be a drastic departure from this worldview, almost like bursting an information bubble,” he explained.
(lismah)