A sabotage group that attempted to infiltrate Russia’s Bryansk Region was heavily armed with Western-made weapons, according to footage shared by the Federal Security Service (FSB). The Russian agency earlier said that at least four foreign mercenaries fighting for Ukraine were killed in the unsuccessful attack.
On Monday, the FSB reported that border patrol and local armed forces had discovered an attempt by Kiev’s forces to cross the border in Klimovsk district, which borders Ukraine and Belarus. Faced with resistance and mounting casualties, the intruders were forced to retreat and were later targeted with artillery fire, officials said.
Four of the fighters killed were carrying foreign weapons and equipment, as well as personal items indicating links to “third countries,” such as a Canadian flag, a Polish prayer book, and a notepad containing tactics in English, the FSB said.
WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO
In a graphic follow-up video released on Tuesday, the agency showed three half-naked, tattoo-covered bodies of alleged mercenaries lying next to an arsenal of Western-made weapons, including what appeared to be more than a dozen Swedish-made AT4 portable anti-tank missile systems, Claymore anti-personnel mines, a light machine gun, grenades and explosive packages, as well as a large stockpile of small arms ammunition. The weapons were placed next to two large Canadian flags.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova earlier said that the fighters “neutralized” in Bryansk included US, Polish, and Canadian citizens. The Mash Telegram channel reported that the group consisted of up to 30 foreign fighters, including Polish, Swedish, Venezuelan, and UK nationals.
According to the FSB, the body of one of the fighters had a tattoo of an angel holding a rifle, with a banner reading ‘Ranger’ and ‘2d Bn’, apparently a reference to the 2nd Battalion of the US Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment. It is unclear whether the man actually served in the elite unit, which specializes in airborne assault, reconnaissance, and sabotage operations.
Russian officials have repeatedly called foreign mercenaries operating in the conflict zone a “legitimate target” for the military while accusing NATO of direct involvement in the hostilities.