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Russian mercenaries linked to Moscow spies have increased their presence in Ukraine in recent weeks, Reuters says, fueling fears among some NATO members that Russia could try to create a pretext for an invasion, three senior sources said. western security.
They said their concerns had intensified in recent weeks that a Russian incursion into Ukraine could be preceded by an information war and cyber-attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, such as electricity and gas networks.
Russia could also use mercenaries to sow discord and paralyze Ukraine through assassinations and the use of specialized weapons, sources said.
The United States warned again on Sunday that Russia could launch a “fake” operation inside Ukraine to justify an invasion.
“Russian mercenaries, led by the Russian state, are likely to be involved in any hostilities in Ukraine, including potentially a pretext for an invasion,” a Western security source told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
Western security sources said the mercenaries were being deployed by Russian private military companies (PMCs) with close ties to the Federal Security Service (FSB), the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB, and the GRU military intelligence agency.
Among those settled in recent weeks was a former GRU officer who also worked in the Wagner mercenary group. The former officer has gone to Donetsk, one of two regions in eastern Ukraine controlled by pro-Russian separatists since 2014, sources said.
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