Putin the Terrible, a war criminal

Ugandan soldiers are used as canon fodder! If a Ugandan soldier does not follow commands, he will be forced at gunpoint to wear an anti-tank mine around his belly while approaching a Ukrainian position.

Source

Indian nationals drawn into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Incredible! I have said on my blog many times before that the Russo-Ukrainian War is World War III by any other name given how many countries are involved on both sides.

It seems not clear whether these Indian men are voluntary mercenaries or were tricked/forced into Russian military service.

India says more than 200 Indians have joined the Russian military since the invasion. Some were killed in combat.

Ukraine War: US Mercenaries Looking to Profit from War? with Palki Sharma

Recommendable! Will Blackwater also get involved in the fight against Hamas?

North Korea’s fanatical troops blow themselves up for Putin’s twisted Ukraine meatgrinder

What a horror! Have we not learnt anything from the Japanese kamikaze fighters? Hopefully, this will be the end of the dictatorship in North Korea! Germany was reunified in 1990!

How Russia and Ukraine are fighting a 'proxy war' in the Africa (Sahel, Mali) thousands of miles from Europe

Recommendable! Very clever move by the Ukraine!

Cameroonians dying for Russia in the war against Ukraine

Bad news! When will the lethargic and apathetic Russian Slav(e)s get rid of the megalomaniac and war criminal Putin the Terrible!

This is World War III by any other name!

Why Blackwater’s Founder Is Sending 200 Fighters to Haiti with Palki Sharma

Concerning!

Kim Jong-Un promises Putin 30,000 more troops for Ukraine

Hopefully, the people of North Korea will finally rise up and throw out this bum of a dictator!

Germany was reunited in 1990!

‘We Came to Make Shampoo and Fix Teeth’: Two Africans Captured Fighting for Russia in the Ukraine

Putin the Terrible does not mind mercenaries from anywhere doing his dirty work! How desperate is this megalomaniac and war criminal?

The Russo-Ukrainian War is World War III by any other name given how many countries are involved one way or the other. Hope and pray it remains geographically contained.

I presume this story is not a fake.

"... Since the start of 2024, a total of 3,344 foreign nationals who went to fight in Ukraine have received Russian citizenship, according to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. ..." (as of 1/7/2025)

"In the Siversky sector (Donetsk region), Ukrainian forces captured two Cameroonian nationals who had been fighting for Russia, according to the 20th Separate UAV Regiment. In a video released by the unit, the men introduced themselves as Metugena Una-na Jean Pafe and Anatole Frank. They claimed they had come to Russia to work – one “to make shampoo,” the other “to fix teeth.” ..."

‘We Came to Make Shampoo and Fix Teeth’: Africans Captured Fighting for Russia

Russia Tricking Africans to Fight War in Ukraine (published 1/7/2025)

Ukraine Joins the Fight Against Russian Mercenaries in Africa

Good news! Bravo! This is huge! More on the Scramble for Africa!

"Ukraine is ready to support African countries in their fight against Russian mercenaries, offering military training, sharing battlefield experience, and assisting refugees in regions where the Kremlin’s influence is growing.

According to a Reuters report, since 2022, Kyiv has been actively expanding its diplomatic footprint across the continent, opening eight new embassies, including those in Mauritania, the Republic of the Congo, and Côte d’Ivoire. The total number of Ukrainian diplomatic missions in Africa has now reached 18. ..."

Ukraine Joins the Fight Against Russian Mercenaries in Africa "Ukraine is boosting ties with Africa by offering military training, aiding refugees, and countering Russian influence through diplomacy, humanitarian aid, and food security efforts."

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) is greeted by South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa (R) during an official visit to South Africa, at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on April 24, 2025.

Hundreds of Civilians Were Tortured by Russian Wagner Mercenaries in Mali: Report

Bad news, if confirmed! A blatant violation of the  United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment!

Putin the Terrible is a megalomaniac and dangerous war criminal and committer of crimes against humanity!

"In its more than three years in Mali, the Russian paramilitary group Wagner kidnapped, detained and tortured hundreds of civilians, including at former UN bases and camps shared with the country’s army, according to a report published Thursday by a journalist collective.

The victims, who were interviewed by a consortium of reporters led by investigative outlet Forbidden Stories, spoke from a refugee camp in neighbouring Mauritania about waterboarding, beatings with electrical cables and being burned with cigarette butts.

The investigation revealed that the use of illegal detentions and systematic torture, which sometimes led to death, was similar to that which occurred in Ukraine and Russia.

The investigation, which was conducted in conjunction with France 24, Le Monde and IStories, identified six detention sites where the Russian paramilitary group held civilians between 2022 and 2024, but the actual number could be much higher, it said. ..."

"Key findings

• Since arriving in Mali in late 2021, Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group have arrested, imprisoned and tortured hundreds of civilians.
• Forbidden Stories and its partners have discovered the duplication of the methods used in occupied Ukraine and Russia: illegal detention and systematic use of torture
• They have done so using former UN bases and camps shared with the Malian army. Forbidden Stories and its partners have identified six detention centers where Wagner held civilians between 2022 and 2024.

..."

Hundreds of Civilians Were Tortured by Wagner Mercenaries in Mali: Report "The investigation revealed that the use of illegal detentions and systematic torture, which sometimes led to death, was similar to that which occurred in Ukraine and Russia."

Torture and Forced Disappearances: Inside Wagner’s Secret Prisons in Mali "Since arriving in Mali in 2021, Russian Wagner mercenaries have abducted and detained hundreds of civilians in former UN bases and military camps shared with the Malian army. Our investigation, as part of the Viktoriia project, reveals secret prisons where abuse and torture are carried out with total impunity."

Russian Mercenaries in Africa: A Closer Look

Putin the Terrible and his involvement in the current Scramble for Africa!

"Russian private military contractors or mercenaries, such as the Wagner Group, have proliferated across Africa since 2018. Moscow uses these groups to develop relationships with African partners and expand its global footprint. Mercenaries also serve as an important source of revenue for the Kremlin.

A new RAND report examines how Russia’s armed presence in Africa has changed in recent years, what types of activities Russian mercenaries perform, and the effects these groups have on African governments, economies, and civilian populations.

Overall, the analysis reveals increasing violence, human rights abuses, and negative public sentiment surrounding Russian mercenaries in Africa. “Rather than addressing security issues and building defense capacity for countries they operate in,” the authors write, “Russian mercenaries seek to exploit and profit off insecurity.” As a result, the security situations in countries that employ these groups are worsening."

"... Although Russia has sought to capitalize on its ambiguous relationships with mercenaries to ignore international norms, Moscow has taken public and direct control over these groups in countries in Africa. Russian mercenaries have operated a nimble expeditionary force, seemingly unencumbered by international rules of war, which has bolstered authoritarian regimes in Africa at the expense of the civilian populations’ and the countries’ overall security. ...

Key Findings

• Russian mercenaries have a clear presence in six African countries.
• Despite the creation of the Africa Corps (an entity created after Wagner’s failed 2023 rebellion, intended to resume Wagner’s efforts in Africa), the Wagner Group’s structure and brand continue to be used in several countries to sustain existing operations. This structure can vary depending on the country.
• Rather than addressing security issues and building defense capacity for countries in which they operate, Russian mercenaries seek to exploit and profit off insecurity.
• The security situations in countries employing Russian mercenaries are worsening. The number of attacks and fatalities committed by militant Islamist groups has increased significantly since Russian mercenaries have replaced United Nations and West African security forces.
• An analysis of public sentiment shows that those in several African countries hold more negative than positive views of Russian mercenaries.
• Russian mercenary activities not only affect the countries that employ them, but they also affect surrounding countries. Both mercenary-perpetrated violence and illicit economic activity are not constrained by borders and have affected entire regions.

"

Policy Currents Newsletter: May 1, 2025 | RAND

Russian Mercenary and Paramilitary Groups in Africa "Examining Changes and Impacts Since the Wagner Rebellion [June 2023]"

FIGURE 1

Assessment of Russian Mercenary Presence in Africa Before the

Wagner Rebellion, 2018–2021

FIGURE 2 Russian Mercenary Presence and Military Activities in Africa

More than 150 Chinese citizens joined the Russian military to fight against Ukraine

Yesterday, the reported number was two Chinese soldiers! This World War III by any other name.

"That indicates a deeper Chinese involvement in the war than previously known, although a Western official said the men were most likely mercenaries. Beijing today denied any military involvement, after Kyiv said it had captured two Chinese nationals. Separately, some of the 15,000 North Korean troops helping Moscow are gaining valuable combat experience."

The Wall Street Journal What's news

Russia Recruits Cuban Mercenaries to fight in the Ukraine, One Ended Up Prisoner Of War

Very recommendable!

What! There are an estimated 5,000 Cubans fighting for Russia in the Ukraine. The Russo-Ukrainian War is World War III by any other name.

What Russia's Wagner Group Was Really Doing In Central Africa

Recommendable!

Nearly 100 US Special Forces veterans hired as private contractors to operate key checkpoints in Gaza

Wow! Paid for by Israel and Arab countries.

‘Big Problem for Kim’: DPRK Troops Suffer Heavy Losses From Ukrainian Drones

Let's hope and pray this huge mistake by the North Korean dictator to send troops to be sacrificed in the Russian meat grinder will accelerate his downfall! 

May the Korean peninsula soon be reunited! Putin the Terrible is a  loser!

"... Pyonyang’s troops, described as highly disciplined and determined - “completely brainwashed,” in Puls’s view - have faced severe losses. British defense intelligence estimated 4,000 casualties had been suffered by mid-January, with a quarter of that figure killed in action, significantly weakening their contribution to support Russia’s offensive. ..."

‘Big Problem for Kim’: DPRK Troops Suffer Heavy Losses From Ukrainian Drones "The Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation reports that North Korean troops in Kursk have temporarily withdrawn to review their mistakes with their and Russian commanders."

Will China's Mercenaries in Myanmar Put India's Interests at Risk? with Palki Sharma

Bad news! China is following the Putin the Terrible playbook by using private mercenary companies for foreign operations! India is paying close attention!

Russia Sends Interpreters and Mercenaries From Africa to Support Troops in Syria

More bad news indicating that World War III is unfolding!

There also an estimated 900 US soldiers stationed in Syria!

"Arab Russian interpreters are urgently being sent to the Syrian city of Hama, where the Islamist group "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham" is fighting against Bashar al-Assad.

They are intended to support Russian officers attempting to restore order among Syrian government troops, Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) reported at a news briefing on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

Moscow has also decided to send reinforcements in the form of mercenaries from private military companies, part of Moscow’s so-called “African Corps,” who are expected to arrive imminently, the HUR report said, adding “Planned rotations of Russian troops in Syria have been suspended.” ...

On Sunday, Dec. 1, Kyiv Post reported that Russian forces were facing significant losses during battles in Syria, prompting Moscow to replace the commander of its troops in the country, the HUR reported. The Kremlin dismissed Kiselyov, who had been leading the group in Syria. ..."

Russia Sends Interpreters and Mercenaries From Africa to Support Troops in Syria "Demoralized by the opposition’s successes and with rotations suspended, Russian troops in Syria are being reinforced with interpreters and mercenaries from the so-called “African Corps.”"

Investigation - Ukraine: Latin Americans on the front lines

Very recommendable! How many foreigners from how many countries is fighting on both sides (voluntary or as mercenaries) is probably significantly underreported! It appears, the Ukrainian government is concealing the numbers of foreigners fighting for the Ukraine.

Apparently, the Ukraine pays there mercenaries well for combat and for death in combat, but the Ukraine is hesitant to declare foreign soldiers as killed in action and prefers to declare them missing in action instead.