On December 15, 2024, Taleb Nabil, Algerian mercenary fighting for russian forces, was killed during battles in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region.
Taleb Nabil was recruited in March 2024 from the russian military contingent in Algeria. By June, he was engaged in combat in the Donbas. In September, he informed his family of plans to move deeper into Ukrainian territory. His sister claims he was deceived into joining the russian military under false promises.
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“At first, an acquaintance told him they would be sent to Europe. He wanted to go to Europe. But later, Taleb Nabil realized his acquaintance had deceived him, and he was only offered a contract with the russian army for a year,” she said. Taleb Nabil was lured by promises of russian citizenship and a steady salary, but the reality was far from what he expected.
Taleb Nabil’s death sheds light on the use of foreign mercenaries in russia’s ongoing aggression. According to his sister, two other Algerians who joined with him were also killed. As of December 18, 2024, 22 Algerian mercenaries have been identified within russian occupying forces, with investigations ongoing to confirm their identities.
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