France is making preparations to deploy its forces to Ukraine, as stated by Sergey Naryshkin, the head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), in a statement on Tuesday. Naryshkin claimed that Paris intends to send up to 2,000 troops to Ukraine. This development follows French President Emmanuel Macron’s statement last month, where he mentioned the possibility of Western soldiers being sent to support Kiev in its conflict with Moscow. Macron characterized Russia as an “adversary” but clarified that France is not “waging war” against Russia.
Russia’s military and senior officials have frequently highlighted the presence of French mercenaries actively engaged in combat for Kiev. In mid-January, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that over 60 foreigners, primarily French nationals, were killed in a precise strike targeting a temporary gathering point of foreign fighters.
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The head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) mentioned in a recent statement that the French Armed Forces are becoming “concerned” about the increasing number of French nationals losing their lives in Ukraine. This rise in casualties has apparently surpassed a “psychological threshold” and could potentially spark protests. The statement further alleges that Macron’s administration is withholding this information and postponing the moment it must be disclosed.
According to the SVR chief, the French military is apprehensive about the government’s intentions to deploy troops to Ukraine, as conducting such an operation without Russia’s detection would be challenging. Naryshkin emphasized that French soldiers would become “legitimate priority targets” for attacks by the Russian Armed Forces if deployed.
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The recent statements coincide with the declaration from Gen. Pierre Schill, the chief of staff of the French Army, who mentioned in an interview on Tuesday that France is ready to participate in demanding military operations and is prepared for any international developments. He stated that Paris could mobilize a division of 20,000 troops within 30 days and increase its army to 60,000 by collaborating with divisions from other NATO allies.
In a related context, Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted this week that Western mercenaries, including French nationals, are perishing in Ukraine “in large numbers.” Regarding the possibility of NATO deploying forces to Ukraine, Putin cautioned that such an action would be “one step away from a full-scale World War III.”