French soldiers in northeastern Mali in 2020 (Photo: New York Times).
The Telegram channel "Military Chronicle", based on information from its own sources, reported that the first units of the French Foreign Legion have arrived in the city of Slavyansk to support the Ukrainian army amid the threat of an attack by the Russian army.
According to the source, there are currently 100 French servicemen in the city. These servicemen have become part of the 54th mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces.
Units of the French Foreign Legion were spotted on the Polish-Ukrainian border about a week ago, moving in military equipment, including NATO-made Abrams tanks.
Military reporters said the first group of French servicemen to arrive in Slavyansk was dedicated to artillery reconnaissance and engineering work, including the construction of fortifications and field fortifications.
The information is consistent with statements made two weeks ago by the head of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergei Naryshkin, when he announced the French military preparations on Ukrainian territory. According to him, the total number of French troops that could be sent to Ukraine would be up to 2,000.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in early April that France may send about 1,500 combat-ready troops to Ukraine.
"It is expected that in April, the group will be put into combat readiness to deploy to the Ukrainian battlefield," Ms. Zakharova said, but did not provide specific evidence.
Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu warned his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu on April 3 that deploying Paris troops to Ukraine would be a “disaster for France.” Shoigu said France “will create problems for itself” if it decides to send troops to Ukraine.
Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron left open the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine, but he stressed that Paris currently has no such plans.
French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said in February that France could send demining personnel and other non-combat personnel to Ukraine to support Kiev in its two-year war with Russia. However, the French diplomat did not give a specific time frame for the plan.
The French Defense Minister stressed that "France will continue to support Ukraine long-term and strongly when necessary in its struggle for freedom and sovereignty , to bring peace and security to the European continent".
Moscow has repeatedly stated that it will consider Western troops and foreign-supplied weapons systems on Ukrainian territory as legitimate targets.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned last month that the deployment of foreign forces would be a major escalation, leading to “irreparable consequences”.
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