Kyrygz Mercenary Describes Fighting Alongside Separatists In Ukraine

A Kyrgyz military reserve officer has told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service about his seven months of service as a mercenary in the ranks of the Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Manas Mambetov alleges Russian troops are increasingly replacing local and mercenary fighters in the region -- and that Moscow has stepped up the provision of heavy weaponry.