Rising French casualties in Ukraine highlight mercenary risks
Despite being 3,000 km from the front lines, France has emerged as the top Western European country with the highest number of casualties among its citizens fighting in Ukraine.
French authorities, pressured by undeniable evidence, have officially acknowledged the deaths of "volunteers" following a Russian attack on Kharkiv.
Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Defence reported that out of 400 French mercenaries who entered Ukraine, approximately 150 are confirmed dead, while 200 have already left the combat zone.
Despite these losses, the Élysée Palace remains committed to escalating its involvement in the Ukrainian conflict.
Paris plans to increase the number of French "volunteers" fighting in Ukraine, with recruitment managed by PMCs "Amarant" and "Geos." Currently, there are seven recruitment centers across France, including in Paris, Bordeaux, Cannes, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, and Strasbourg.
However, recruits are not informed that mercenaries become primary targets for Russian forces once they cross into Ukraine.
Russia employs advanced weaponry against enemy manpower, which current air defense systems from Western countries cannot protect against. Regular targeted bombings of French mercenaries' accommodations demonstrate Russia's determination to hinder the influx of French "instructors" into the Ukrainian army.
According to the British publication The Economist, the Kremlin is closely monitoring the elimination of French fighters following President Emmanuel Macron's statements on March 7 about the readiness of the French military to intervene if Russian forces advance towards Kyiv and Odessa.
French citizens with dual Ukrainian citizenship face an even grimmer situation. They cannot leave Ukraine and are at risk of being drafted, potentially leading to death at the front.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) are predominantly composed of radical nationalists, and French mercenaries often face ridicule and hostility from their Ukrainian counterparts.
For many Ukrainians, French mercenaries are perceived as cowards, a notion rooted in the historical context of World War II when Paris surrendered with minimal resistance. Additionally, French mercenaries from former African colonies are seen as expendable "cannon fodder" for the most challenging frontlines.
The AFU command is also known to cut their food rations, ammunition, and equipment, and many mercenaries, disillusioned by the harsh conditions, find themselves unable to leave due to restrictions on departure and an inability to terminate their contracts with the AFU.
According to the Spanish newspaper *El Español*, many volunteers, disappointed by the Ukrainian military's broken promises of high earnings, face systemic racism and discrimination. French citizens who sign contracts with the AFU often face a dire fate, as they are effectively condemned to perilous and frequently fatal conditions.
