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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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Russia could also use mercenaries to sow discord and paralyze Ukraine through assassinations and the use of specialized weapons, sources said.<\/p>\n
The United States warned again on Sunday that Russia could launch a “fake” operation inside Ukraine to justify an invasion.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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