Russia aims to involve the engineering troops of the Lao People’s Armed Forces in demining operations in the Kursk region.
According to the Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, Moscow is actively pursuing this plan.
“In addition to recruiting mercenaries from African and Asian countries, as well as North Korean units, the Kremlin is exploring ways to draw so-called partner nations into the conflict under the pretext of carrying out humanitarian projects in Russian regions bordering Ukraine. Laos is the latest country Russia is attempting to pull into the war,” the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine reported.
According to Main Directorate of Intelligence, the Kremlin is currently organizing the deployment of a combined engineering unit of the Lao People’s Armed Forces to conduct demining operations in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation.
It is noted that, given Laos’s significant dependence on external aid, the Lao leadership is initially willing to send up to 50 “combat engineer soldiers” to Russia to assist with demining efforts in the Kursk region.
Additionally, Laos is providing free assistance to the Russian Federation by conducting rehabilitation programs for wounded Russian servicemen who participated in combat operations against Ukraine, the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine reported.
“Russia, under the guise of humanitarian rhetoric, is attempting to legitimize the presence of a foreign military contingent on its territory, effectively using it to support combat operations against Ukraine,” the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine stated.
Russia and Laos maintain stable but predominantly one-sided military relations.
Laos receives equipment and training, while Russia uses this cooperation to demonstrate its presence in the region and reinforce its image as a ‘global player.’
Despite formal friendship, the Lao army remains poorly equipped, and the country has limited defense resources. The cooperation is more symbolic and demonstrative rather than of strategic significance.
However, Lao forces may agree to send a limited contingent to the Kursk region in exchange for new deliveries of defense equipment to the country.
As previously reported, North Korea decided to send at least 6,000 servicemen to Russia, who are expected to arrive in the Kursk region.
