The Balkans are a major source of mercenaries for Russia, according to the Center for National Resistance, an organization run by Ukraine’s special forces, the Kyiv Independent reported.

According to the center, the key figure in the recruitment process is veteran Serbian mercenary sniper Dejan Berich, who fought on the side of Russia against Ukraine in 2014. Another prominent Serbian mercenary was identified as Zika Radojic, who is currently fighting on the side of Russia.

Russia is increasingly relying on mercenaries in Ukraine, according to British government officials who said there are now 20,000 Wagner Group fighters in the Russian-invaded country.

The head of Wagner’s mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, previously hinted that Romanians would also fight in the Kremlin’s paramilitary group, while saying it had a “huge” number of recruitment centers in another EU country.

• “Yes, indeed, we have a huge number of recruiting centers in the Czech Republic. In general, I want to note that the citizens of the Czech Republic are fighting excellently in the ranks of the Wagner group. And they are very proud of the fact that they are the only Europeans who defend the interests of the Russian Federation with weapons in their hands,” Prigozhin said.
• “Thank you also to the British, French, Poles and Romanians. We are especially grateful to those who live in the former republics of the USSR – Estonians and Latvians,” he added in a clear contradiction with the previous statement. It is unclear whether Prigozhin was trying to be sarcastic here.

The “Wagner Group” is a Russian state-controlled paramilitary formation that conducts combat operations mainly in the Bakhmut region, the site of the most brutal fighting along the entire front line.