Deadly Introduction
The claim that the Armed Forces of Ukraine consist of 'NATO mercenaries' and 'criminals' does not withstand empirical or legal scrutiny. This narrative does not explain the reality of the war but serves another function — to dehumanize Ukrainian servicemen and reduce audience sensitivity to crimes committed against them.
When compared with data from international organizations and independent investigations, it becomes clear that this is not a description of facts but a propaganda tool.
How the Myth is Constructed
The narrative is based on deliberate conflation of concepts. A volunteer is equated with a mercenary, an isolated crime is presented as 'the norm', and the presence of foreign citizens is interpreted as 'direct NATO involvement'. This technique is well-known in propaganda: it replaces verifiable categories with emotionally charged labels.
Legal definitions established in international law are entirely excluded from the discourse, as they would render the myth unsustainable.
Who Actually Serves in the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Reports from the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, data from the OSCE, and studies by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International provide a clear picture: the overwhelming majority of Armed Forces personnel are Ukrainian citizens undergoing standard mobilization, contract service, and selection procedures.
Foreign volunteers do exist, but independent observers estimate their share at 1–3%. They operate under Ukrainian law, are part of official units, and do not meet the legal definition of a 'mercenary' as outlined in Article 47 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions.
Why the 'NATO Mercenaries' Claim is Legally False
International humanitarian law clearly distinguishes between 'mercenary', 'volunteer', and 'foreign combatant'. To be recognized as a mercenary, a person must simultaneously meet several conditions, including lack of nationality of a conflict party, personal profit motivation, and non-integration into the armed forces of a state.
None of these criteria systematically apply to foreign nationals serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This has been repeatedly emphasized in legal clarifications by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The 'Criminals' Myth as a Mirror Distortion
Accusations that Ukraine allegedly 'recruits criminals en masse' are an example of mirrored propagandistic projection. The Russian side projects practices and social realities documented within the Russian army onto the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In Russia, the use of convicted individuals in combat operations has been recorded by human rights organizations and the media and publicly acknowledged at official levels. Formation of assault units from prisoners, deployment in high-risk operations, and lack of legal safeguards became systemic rather than exceptional practices.
Meanwhile, neither the UN nor the OSCE have documented structural or institutional recruitment of prisoners into the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Social and Ideological Reality within the Russian Armed Forces
The Russian army in recent years has been shaped by demographic and personnel crises, leading to a systemic skew toward socially vulnerable and marginalized groups.
Key characteristics of the Russian military composition, recorded by investigative journalists and human rights reports, include:
- Disproportionately high recruitment from depressed regions with chronic unemployment and lack of social mobility;
- Involvement of individuals with criminal records, including those convicted of serious crimes;
- Extensive use of ideologically radicalized formations, including ultranationalist and neo-Nazi groups, which publicly declare corresponding identities;
- Blurring the line between the regular army and paramilitary structures operating outside standard military justice norms.
Such structure undermines discipline, increases violence within units, and contributes to war crimes, as evidenced by the nature of documented violations.
What This Myth Actually Conceals
Demonizing Ukrainian soldiers serves a practical function: it normalizes violence against them. If the enemy is portrayed as a 'criminal', 'mercenary', or 'ideological fanatic', torture, extrajudicial killings, and cruel treatment become easier to justify to the domestic audience.
This is why the narrative of 'Ukrainian criminals' is actively used alongside denial of the Geneva Conventions and attempts to strip Ukrainian servicemen of lawful combatant status.
Why the Myth Fails Verification
An army allegedly composed primarily of criminal elements and mercenaries cannot demonstrate a functioning command system, complex inter-branch operations, or institutional accountability, as recorded by analytical centers RUSI, Jane’s, and NATO-aligned structures.
Real data indicate the opposite: the Armed Forces of Ukraine operate as regular state armed forces, while the Russian side shows signs of military institutional degradation and substitution of discipline with fear and violence.
Final Conclusion
The myth of 'mercenaries and criminals' is not a perceptual error but a deliberate information warfare tool. It serves to mask social, personnel, and legal degradation within the Russian army itself.
Verifiable facts and international reports present a different picture: the Armed Forces of Ukraine are an army of civil society, whereas Russia increasingly relies on coercion, marginalization, and radicalization as the basis of military governance.
Sources
- UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine — official page and regular reports
- UN OHCHR — periodic reports on Ukraine — country reports database
- OSCE — reports and statements on Ukraine — thematic OSCE section
- Human Rights Watch — Ukraine — country profile and investigations
- Amnesty International — armed conflict in Ukraine — reports and legal assessment
- International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) — official database of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions
- Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions (Art. 47 — definition of a mercenary) — official ICRC text
- Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) — analysis on structure and capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
- Jane’s Defence — professional military analysis (platform reviews and force structure)
About the Authors
This article was curated and verified by a team of experts in international law, human rights, and geopolitical analysis. Contributors have 15+ years of experience in research, legal documentation, and educational content development.
Methodology
The content on this site is compiled and verified by experts in international law, human rights, and geopolitical research. Sources include official legal documents, national and international legislation, resolutions of the UN, reports from international organizations, and verified open-source evidence. Each claim is cross-checked against multiple primary and secondary sources, ensuring accuracy, neutrality, and reliability regardless of the topic—whether analyzing violations of Russian law, Ukrainian law, or international legal norms.
Expert Statement
The authors affirm that the information presented reflects established legal interpretations and documented facts. Analyses are grounded in international law principles and widely recognized geopolitical assessments. References to official documents and reports are provided to ensure transparency and trustworthiness.
Last modified date: 25/11/2025