Russian mercenaries leave Burkina Faso due to Ukrainian offensive in Kursk Oblast — Le Monde
Fighters of the Russian private company Brigade Bear, which is connected to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, are leaving the African country of Burkina Faso due to the offensive of the Ukrainian army in Kursk Oblast, Le Monde writes.
The Russian military arrived in this country in May. There, they provided security for the local junta, in particular its head, Ibrahim Traoré. Now they are leaving the African country to take part in the defense of Kursk Oblast.
The commander of the Russian mercenaries, Viktor Yermolayev, in a comment to Le Monde, confirmed the fact of the departure of his unit and said: "When the enemy comes to Russian territory, all Russian soldiers forget about internal problems and unite against the common enemy."
Battles in Kursk Oblast
The first unofficial reports of a border breach in Kursk Oblast emerged on August 7. Against this backdrop, Russian leader Vladimir Putin spoke of a "large-scale provocation" by Ukraine.
The Kursk regional governor Alexei Smirnov reported that 133,000 people had been evacuated from border territories, with another 19,000 remaining in border areas.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy first confirmed fighting in Kursk Oblast on August 12. As of August 27, Ukraine controls 1,294 square kilometers of Russian territory, according to the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to The Washington Post, Ukraine currently controls the Sudzha gas metering station, located approximately 8 kilometers inside Russia.
According to Zelenskyy, this operation "became the largest investment" by Ukraine in the process of freeing its citizens from Russian captivity.
A military commandant's office has already been established in the controlled territories, with Major General Eduard Moskalov as its head. Meanwhile, Ukraine has launched a hotline for residents of Kursk Oblast who wish to evacuate and is considering a possible humanitarian corridor to Sumy.