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Russia Finds Body of Spanish National in Belgorod, Accuses Ukraine of Deploying Mercenaries

The finding during evacuation operations has fueled Russian demands at the Istanbul negotiations that Kyiv prohibit foreigners from fighting for its army.

Archivo - Un soldado del ejército ucraniano observa su posición, a 6 de marzo de 2022, en Irpin (Ucrania)
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Una foto de la guerra en Ucrania
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Overview

  • The Russian military recovered the body on May 25 near Demidovka in the Belgorod region, identifying the man as Spanish through documents found on his person.
  • He was wearing a NATO-style uniform with a blue armband and foreign-made equipment, which Moscow says indicates he fought alongside Ukrainian forces.
  • Moscow delivered a memorandum to Kyiv in Istanbul on June 3 demanding that Ukraine bar foreign specialists from its ranks and accusing it of employing mercenaries.
  • Spain’s Foreign Ministry has not yet commented as it seeks to verify the individual’s identity and the circumstances of his deployment.
  • The discovery follows Ukrainian incursions into Russian border areas in March and Russia’s full recapture of Kursk in April, underscoring shifting frontlines and rising diplomatic tensions.