Here, I think something is being lost in translation: the mercenaries were French (as in, their nationality was French), but that does not mean that they are operating under orders from the French government to serve in the Ukrainian army.
Russia is claiming the former, France is denying the latter, and we have a diplomatic mess for no good reason.
Well Russia lies constantly so I'm going to side with the French here.
Here, I’ll break it down for your lib brain hopped up on western propaganda. These are French special forces just like US special forces have “served” in Ukraine. They are essentially spies trying to assist Ukraine, operating under the presumption that if they are captured they deny any official involvement with the French government. The Russians know this, the Ukrainians know this, the NATO allied western forces know this, especially the US because NATO is the US. Russia is calling it out because it’s an obvious provocation to war. It’s just you that aren’t clued in, and the state department’s talking points are that they aren’t part of an official operation because, gasp!, that would mean we are at war with Russia. Nah, it’s still just another proxy war, one of many in a long line dating back to immediately after WWII.
I doubt it will lead to another WWIII, but Russia is going to use it for their propaganda because it also happens to be true. Wait, you do realize that all governments and media do propaganda all the time, right?
Sorry if I unnecessarily jumped down your throat comrade. It just sounded like you were, “wah, the Russians are saying they are French soldiers, the French are saying they are freelance citizens”. Maybe I’m just jaded, but I don’t believe western governments anymore. BUT, I will admit that I also didn’t trust the state department when they were saying Russia was going to invade Ukraine any day either, so what do I know. My assessment was that Putin was smart and that it wouldn’t be easy and that they would incur heavy losses, so they wouldn’t do it. It turns out I was wrong and after those heavy loses, Russia is gaining the upper ground. I guess living in the west, and knowing how much of our tax dollars is fueling the MIC, that I thought our weapons were a little more capable than they are turning out to be. My main point is that we are all subject to propaganda, myself included. And we are heavily propagandized in the west, so pervasively that we don’t even realize it. Either way, listen to both sides, make an assessment of those sides based on evidence and materiel conditions. If I had to wager a $1000 on it right now, my money is on everyone on that list is a French special force being funded directly by whatever is the French equivalent of the CIA is.
That's the thing, I'm not convinced France is lying. This was Lecornu's statement:
These people have no connection with the French armed forces, do not wear French uniform and are not associated with the French military institutions.
France does not consider their intelligence services as a military institution. France can speak the truth, but Russia can also be correct.