Russian mercenaries flee Burkina Faso to join the fight in Kursk

Russian mercenaries belonging to the private military company “Medvedi” (Bears) are being withdrawn from the African country of Burkina Faso, trying to respond to the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s advance in the Kursk region, as reported by Le Monde, the French news group. 

Since May, the Russians have maintained a presence to offer ‘security’ to the local junta, including its leader, Ibrahim Traoré. Now, the occupiers are ordered to leave Africa to try to join in the defense of Kursk.

This development was confirmed in remarks made by the commander of the Russian mercenaries, Viktor Yermolaev. “When the enemy comes to Russian territory, all Russian soldiers forget about internal issues and unite against the common enemy,” claimed the invader, in comments to journalists.

It was back on August 6 when the Armed Forces of Ukraine breached the Russian-Ukrainian border, close to the town of Sudzha. Within a few weeks of the operation, Ukrainian troops took control of more than 100 settlements in the region and they continue to advance. As of August 27, 594 Russian servicemen have been captured in this direction, as reported by Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi.