Part 4/6:
The presence of these volunteers and their potentially compromised motives pose a significant security challenge. The association or overlap between insurgents, foreign fighters, and criminal networks complicates Ukraine’s defense strategies.
Authorities are particularly alarmed that these tactics could be adopted by organized crime groups for activities such as drug trafficking, human smuggling, or orchestrating violence in other regions. The transfer of drone warfare expertise to illicit actors heightens the risks of escalation and destabilization not just within Ukraine but potentially across neighboring countries.