Russian Mercenaries Depart Burkina Faso for Kursk

Russian mercenaries from the Bear Brigade, recently deployed in Burkina Faso, have returned to Russia to bolster defenses in the Kursk region as Ukraine's offensive intensifies. Commander Viktor Yermolaev confirmed that approximately 100 of the 300 men stationed in West Africa left to address the situation back home, stating that 'all Russian soldiers forget about internal problems' when facing a common enemy. The brigade, which has ties to the Russian Ministry of Defense, had been providing security for Burkina Faso's military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, since May 2023. The departure follows Ukraine's unprecedented incursion into the Kursk region, which has caught Russian forces off guard. While the Bears claim to operate independently, they are believed to have connections to the Russian state and military operations abroad. The situation underscores the broader implications of the Ukraine war on Russian military resources and their engagements in Africa.