Russian Intelligence Alleges France Preparing Mercenaries for Ukraine

Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has accused France of initiating a plan to send military personnel to Ukraine. The SVR claims the French government is preparing to authorize a contingent of its own troops to operate in the conflict zone. According to the Russian statement, this force would be formally designated as a "private military company." The SVR alleges this classification is a deliberate tactic to conceal their official status as French soldiers. The intelligence service further asserted that an initial group of up to 2,000 French military personnel is already being organized for deployment. The alleged mission of these forces would be to support Ukrainian troops in the contested region of Kharkiv. The French government has not yet issued a public response to these specific allegations. The SVR's claims, which have not been independently verified, represent a significant escalation in Russian rhetoric against Western support for Ukraine.