MOSCOW, October 1. /TASS/. The Ukrainian military command is attempting to plug gaps in the defenses of the city of Orekhov in the Zaporozhye Region with Colombian mercenaries, a Russian defense source told TASS.

"According to our agents, a pair of one Colombian and one Ukrainian is often placed at positions near Orekhov. This is a necessary measure--due to a shortage of personnel, they are using this method to fill gaps in the line," the source said.

He noted that the heavy casualties among Latin American mercenaries in the Orekhov area are directly linked to this. "Groups from Germany and the United Kingdom have also been spotted there. In late July, a similar group of foreigners was destroyed near Orekhov," added the source.

In late September, military expert Andrey Marochko reported that Russian troops had taken control of nearly the entire city of Orekhov in the Zaporozhye Region.