Event 840

{
  "category": "Kinetic",
  "confidence": "High",
  "country": "Ukraine",
  "description": "Research by iStories reveals Russian mercenaries in Ukraine are more numerous and politically active than previously understood. Their involvement spans not only battlefield engagement but also influencing local political and social dynamics, with evidence from interviews, intercepted communications, and open-source intelligence showing recruitment patterns, foreign fighters, and the role of mercenary groups like Wagner. The report highlights a complex nexus of mercenaries, nationalist actors, and covert Russian state influence, emphasizing parallel state and non-state military engagement in conflict zones. The findings indicate long-term implications for regional security and hybrid warfare tactics.",
  "event_time_utc": "2025-04-23T12:00:00Z",
  "evidence": [
    "“My first report comes from the 'Parallel war: mercenaries and the new political reality in Ukraine'.",
    "Russian mercenaries operate as a significant force on the ground, blending with official military units and local nationalist groups.",
    "The research is based on a combination of interviews with mercenaries and locals, document analysis, and intercepted communications.",
    "Data indicates hundreds of foreign fighters from Russia and allied countries participate actively in the conflict.",
    "Charts and intercepted messages confirm political operations by mercenaries beyond combat, aiming to influence local governance.",
    "iStories report cites multiple sources of evidence including captured documents, videos, and communications.",
    "Mercenary groups like Wagner are shown to be involved in both military and political spheres in Ukraine.",
    "The findings show hybrid warfare strategies involving mercenaries supporting Russian state objectives while maintaining plausible deniability."
  ],
  "extra": {
    "extra": {
      "extra": {
        "evidence": [
          "“My first report comes from the 'Parallel war: mercenaries and the new political reality in Ukraine'.",
          "Russian mercenaries operate as a significant force on the ground, blending with official military units and local nationalist groups.",
          "The research is based on a combination of interviews with mercenaries and locals, document analysis, and intercepted communications.",
          "Data indicates hundreds of foreign fighters from Russia and allied countries participate actively in the conflict.",
          "Charts and intercepted messages confirm political operations by mercenaries beyond combat, aiming to influence local governance.",
          "iStories report cites multiple sources of evidence including captured documents, videos, and communications.",
          "Mercenary groups like Wagner are shown to be involved in both military and political spheres in Ukraine.",
          "The findings show hybrid warfare strategies involving mercenaries supporting Russian state objectives while maintaining plausible deniability."
        ]
      }
    }
  },
  "media_assets": [
    {
      "description": "Screenshot capture",
      "type": "screenshot",
      "url": "/media/event_840_1764371989_e2de9896.jpg"
    }
  ],
  "schema_version": "v1",
  "screenshot_count": 1.0,
  "url": "https://storage.googleapis.com/istories/en/stories/2025/04/23/mercenaries/index.html"
}

{
  "5th Column of Russians Inside (which countries)": "LV",
  "Attack Type": "Treasonous enlistment",
  "Borders Including Sea, Air,  Violation or Sabotage (which countries)": "",
  "Continuous? (e.g. Jammers)": "",
  "Country (FI;EE;LV;LT;PL;BSR;Air)\nSeparated by Semicolon": "LV",
  "Date": "23-Apr-25",
  "Defense Prep Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL)": "",
  "Defense Prep Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL) REF LINK": "",
  "Follow-Up Link?  (FI,EE,LV,LT,PL, BSR, Air)": "",
  "Follow-Up NOTES": "",
  "Follow-Up incl. Investigation, Prosecution?  (FI,EE,LV,LT,PL, BSR, Air)": "",
  "Latitude, Longitude (WGS84, Decimal Degrees)": "",
  "NOTES": "Four ??Latvian citizens reportedly joined ??Russian forces, raising concerns of internal sympathizers.",
  "Political Disruptions w/ Laws to Favor Kremlin (which countries)": "",
  "Russian-Belarus Terrorist Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL)": "4 ??Latvians reported to have joined ??Russian military forces.",
  "Russian-Belarus Terrorist Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL) REF LINK": "https://storage.googleapis.com/istories/en/stories/2025/04/23/mercenaries/index.html",
  "Screen Snapshot": "",
  "Screen Snapshots": "",
  "Type Dropdown": "",
  "Where?\n(Air, Land, Sea)": ""
}