Ukraine has lost an estimated 10,000 foreign mercenaries since the start of the war, according to a former officer of the Ukrainian Security Service, Vasily Prozorov, who spoke to Russian News Agency Tass.
In his interview with the agency, Prozorov, however, acknowledged that determining the exact number of foreign fighters killed is difficult because such information is classified, and the mercenaries are spread across multiple units.
He explained that Ukraine has several foreign legions, including those attached to military intelligence and ground forces, with personnel embedded in mechanized brigades and air assault units across the battlefield.
Prozorov noted that while foreign fighters are present in large numbers, overall losses among them are significant, with total casualties estimated at around 10,000.
“It is difficult to give their exact number [the number of mercenaries killed] in Ukraine. First of all, this is classified information in Ukraine, and also, they have a large number of various units. There is even more than one foreign legion in Ukraine,” Vasily Prozorov told TASS.
“There is a foreign legion of Ukraine’s military intelligence and a foreign legion of land troops and they are scattered across various units there, across various mechanized brigades, air assault formations. There are a lot of them, but I believe that the total number is estimated at about 10,000.”
Earlier, Deputy Chief of the Russian Armed Forces’ Main Military-Political Department and Akhmat Special Forces Commander Lieutenant General Apty Alaudinov told TASS that many professional foreign mercenaries had either been killed or withdrawn from combat zones.
He added that those still fighting in Ukraine show a noticeable decline in training and combat effectiveness.
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Ukraine to Disband International Legions By End of 2025
The revelation comes at a time when Ukraine plans to dissolve its International Legions by the end of 2025 as part of a restructuring.
Under the plan, four battalion-sized units formed after the start of the full-scale war and operating under the “International Legions” banner will be reorganized or absorbed into assault formations.
While foreign fighters will still be allowed to serve within the Armed Forces based on their skills and specialties, the legions will cease to exist as independent units.
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Each of the four legions has operated with an estimated 400 to 600 personnel per unit.
They included three combat legions and one dedicated to training and recruitment, with the Fourth Legion serving as the main intake and preparation centre.
Since 2022, the formations have attracted volunteers from more than 75 countries, with thousands of foreign fighters passing through their ranks and taking part in operations.
According to the recent plans, the dissolution process is scheduled to be completed by December 31, after which all remaining personnel will be reassigned to assault units.
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