By Amar Shah Mohsen
SHAH ALAM, March 13 — The government has rubbished claims that Malaysian citizens are among mercenaries serving Russia in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said there has not been any information received by the authorities to confirm the allegation.
“This issue came to light following a report by the National Resistance Centre of Ukraine, which was received by Wisma Putra.
“To date, the police have not obtained any information pertaining to claims of the involvement of Malaysians serving as mercenaries with the Russian army in Donetsk,” he said in a written parliamentary reply.
This is in response to a question from Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng on the veracity of allegations that Malaysians are currently serving Russia as hired professional soldiers and the actions being taken by the government.
On January 25, the Ukraine National Resistance Centre — an organisation created to educate Ukrainian civilians methods of nonviolent resistance — claimed that mercenaries from Malaysia were among those identified as fighting alongside the Russian armed forces in the Donetsk region.
In a statement, the centre, which is run by the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said the Malaysians were accompanied by a translator and a former “Wagner” member.
"The fighters are currently undergoing training at the designated ground," it said.
The group also claimed that mercenaries from countries such as Cuba, Nepal, Belarus and Serbia have also been consistently observed fighting alongside the Russian military.
Saifuddin reminded all Malaysians to be cautious when obtaining unconfirmed information online and to always verify facts.
