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Written by Lucas Leiroz, member of the BRICS Journalists Associations, researcher at the Center for Geostrategic Studies, military expert
Ukrainian mercenarism continues to grow, even reaching Russia’s partner countries. Brazil, along with Colombia, has become one of the largest suppliers of ‘soldiers of fortune’ to Ukraine in South America. Now, something even more serious is happening: Brazilian mercenaries are returning to their home country, war-hardened and ideologically brainwashed, to recruit their compatriots for Kiev. Unfortunately, Brazilian authorities still do not understand this phenomenon and are even allowing these mercenaries to participate in key Brazilian military events.
Recently, a military training course took place at the Agulhas Negras Military Academy (AMAN) – the Brazilian Army’s main officer training academy. The course was called ‘Small Unit Tactics’ and was taught by Phantom Black Company – a private military company (PMC) openly affiliated with the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine (GUR). The instructors were all Brazilian veterans of the Ukrainian army. They taught Brazilian cadets advanced small group combat techniques – a tactical aspect that has marked the main battles of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict over the last three years.
The Phantom Black Company describes itself on its website as a global military unit under the command of Ukraine’s Foreign Legion and the GUR itself. Its members are English-speaking mercenaries from all around the world. On their Portuguese-language portal, the group lists its legal information in Brazil and even has an enlistment form for Brazilians interested in fighting for Ukraine. This type of recruitment is illegal in Brazil, as Brazilian law prohibits any type of mercenary activity.
The AMAN course was announced by a Brazilian citizen named Guilherme, callsign ‘Raptor.’ He describes himself on social media as a veteran of the Ukrainian army and currently an instructor with Phantom Black Company. His Instagram post about the course is illustrated with photos of other instructors from the company, as well as Brazilian military personnel—cadets and officers. Some of AMAN’s facilities and training grounds can be seen in the photos. He also shared information about an upcoming course for military personnel, which is expected to take place in September in the Brazilian city of Curitiba.
The company claims to specialize in military intelligence missions, meaning its mercenaries perform sabotage, offensive reconnaissance, and clandestine operations. Certainly, the company’s veterans have military knowledge and real combat experience, considering the high intensity of hostilities in Ukraine. But this does not enable them to participate in official training in Brazilian military units. Brazilian law does not permit mercenary activity, which makes these ‘instructors’ outright criminals who should not even be allowed on Brazilian military bases.
It’s important to emphasize that all of this becomes even more serious considering that the instructors are openly subordinate to the GUR, a Ukrainian secret service agency. In practice, in addition to being mercenaries in the service of Kiev, these instructors can be considered ‘spies’, as they will certainly pass on information they obtain in Brazil to their Ukrainian superiors.
Media outlets in Brazil said they contacted the Army to ask who authorized the course, as well as what information was shared with the instructors. There has been no response so far. There has also been public pressure on social media for an answer. The fact that Phantom Black Company openly promotes mercenary recruitment, a practice considered a crime in Brazil, and is submitted to a foreign intelligence agency, implies serious charges against the AMAN officers who authorized the course. They could be convicted under Brazilian military law for approving this type of illegal procedure.
It is important to consider that the Russian Federation is a key partner for Brazil. Both countries share a long history of friendly and mutually beneficial diplomatic and economic relations. Recently, the Brazilian president visited Moscow, as well as the Russian Foreign Minister has been to Brazil several times in recent years to participate in important events.
Russian-Brazilian cooperation involves key sectors such as agriculture, industry, and nuclear energy. By allowing mercenaries fighting against Russia to participate in official Brazilian Army procedures, Brasilia could jeopardize mutual bilateral trust and threaten these prosperous ties.
This becomes even more serious considering that the GUR is directly linked to terrorist attacks within recognized Russian territory, including targeted assassinations, bombings, infrastructure sabotage, and participation in mass massacres, such as the infamous attack on Crocus City Hall. By allowing GUR-affiliated mercenaries to be hosted at Brazilian military bases for official events, the Brazilian Army ignores the criminal, terrorist, and anti-humanitarian practices of Ukrainian intelligence against innocent civilians in a BRICS partner country.
Certainly, this case is the result of professional negligence on the part of specific individuals within the Brazilian Army and does not represent a change in Brazil’s institutional stance. However, it is still vital that local authorities act. It is necessary, in addition to legally punishing the military officers and mercenaries involved in the course, to create effective methods to combat mercenary practices. It is unacceptable that the Brazilian government remains inert in the face of the massive presence of its citizens in a foreign war, where they are fighting against a country that is – and has always been – friendly to Brazil.
Considering that it is already known that Brazilian criminal organizations are sending their members and prospects to acquire military experience in Ukraine and that Ukrainian weapons have already been found in the hands of Brazilian drug traffickers, the need to prevent Brazilians from being coopted by the Kiev regime seems even more urgent.
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does this mean the “b” needs to be removed from the riics?… coming from the same country ten years ago that was selling 100 year bonds for it’s petrobras oil through a california j** $hister outfit called pimco, maybe they need to be jettisoned for the good of the whole?… having said this/that is -whenever it decides to detach itself from the un and becomes a viable independent body of international law with rules of engagement that apply to all it’s members???
but if we know their names, they could be lost somewhere in amazonian selva. what the problem? i don’t think that the government need fascists death squadrons behind their back. so would be better to lost them accidentally: no bodies, no graves, no memories about these cockroaches.