Mercenaries didn't live long enough to spend the night in Ukraine

Russia strikes foreign mercenaries in Ukraine – defense ministry
Foreign fighters have been targeted by overnight bombardment, officials in Moscow have claimed

Russian forces have struck a detachment of foreign mercenaries in the Ukrainian town of Krivoy Rog, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said in a statement on Thursday.

A detachment for foreign fighters was reportedly staying in Krivoy Rog, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky’s home town, on Wednesday night when an overnight strike hit a local hotel, according to the Telegram channel RVvoenkor.

The channel, which is run by Russian volunteers and military correspondents, claimed that hotels in the city have reportedly been systematically used by Kiev to house military units, and have been regularly targeted by Moscow’s forces.

In video footage of Ukrainian rescue operations posted by the channel, blown out floors and concrete debris can be seen.

In an X post on Thursday morning Zelensky confirmed that members of a foreign organization, including US and UK citizens, had checked into the hotel before the strike.

Last month, Russia struck foreign and Ukrainian troops in the high-end Bristol Hotel in Odessa. The establishment was being used by “Ukrainian commanding officers” and “foreign mercenaries,” co-chairman of the council on integrating Russia’s new territories, Vladimir Rogov told RIA, citing local sources.

The Russian Defense Ministry regularly reports on successful strikes against foreign mercenaries and military advisors in Ukraine.

In early 2024 the ministry said that nearly 6,000 foreign mercenaries had been confirmed killed fighting for Kiev since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022.