Slovak Citizen Fighting with Russian Forces Captured by Ukrainian Military

3 June, 2024 A captured citizen of Slovakia. Source: Oleksandr Kachura Soldiers of the Ukrainian Defense Forces captured a Slovak citizen who fought on the side of the Russian invasion forces.

The video was posted on Facebook by Ukrainian journalist and volunteer Oleksandr Kachura. It is reported that the mercenary, who introduced himself as Jaroslav Galajcik, was captured in the Lyman sector. The mercenary signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense and received an upfront payment of 195,000 rubles (£2,162) and a monthly salary of 205,000 rubles (£2,272).

Illustrative photo of captured Russian soldiers and a mercenary from Africa.

Source: ArmyTV

The POW stated that the Russians had given orders not to take Ukrainian soldiers prisoner, and those who were captured were treated inhumanely. He also mentioned that the Russians kept their defectors in the same pit as the POWs. Galajcik survived two assaults, and during the third one, he got a concussion and was captured by the Ukrainian military.

According to him, he was a medic in a unit where Indians and Nepalese served. The Russian mercenary refused to be exchanged and asked to be extradited to the Slovak government. For reference, he faces 10 to 20 years in prison in his home country.

Mercenaries in the Russian army

Militarnyi has reported on the facts of Russians recruiting citizens of other countries to participate in the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war.

On May 28, it was reported that Russia had created a special unit that recruits mercenaries in several African countries. The Africans were promised a monthly allowance of £2,200, health insurance, and a Russian passport for the soldier and his family members.

Nepalese mercenaries in the ranks of the Russian army.

2023. Russia.

Photo credits: Yurii Butusov

It regarded recruiting manpower in Central Africa, particularly in Rwanda, Burundi, Congo, and Uganda. On May 1, Militarnyi reported that Nepalese mercenaries were deserting the Russian army en masse due to ill-treatment and heavy losses. The escape of mercenaries from Nepal assigned to military unit No.

29328 was caused by huge losses in 'meat assaults' and the brutal treatment of field commanders, including extrajudicial executions for refusing to comply with orders.

In addition, mercenaries were not paid the money they were promised.