MERCENARY soldiers are legally allowed to provide service in warfare in a multitude of countries.
Whether or not this should remain legal is something Americans have debated for years.
What is a mercenary soldier?
A mercenary soldier is a private individual who is hired to participate in military conflict for personal profit, as opposed to someone loyal to one side or the other.
They are not a member of any other official military.
Mercenary soldiers fight for the intention of receiving money or another form of payment and not for the purpose of political interests.
According to The Geneva Conventions, mercenaries are not recognized as legitimate combatants and are not necessarily granted the same legal protections as they would be if they were a member of a regular army.
What are The Geneva Conventions?
The Geneva Conventions is a collection of four treaties, compromising of the international legal standards for humanitarian treatment during war.
Within The Geneva Conventions lay out the basic rights for wartime prisoners; the established protections for the wounded and sick; and provided protections for civilians in and around a war-zone.
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What is an example of a mercenary soldier?
Mercenaries are often represented in pop culture, as either heroes or villains – those who fight for hire, as opposed to allegiance.
Some well-known examples include Marvel's Deadpool; Rambo; and DC'sLeague of Shadows.
Is Russia employing mercenaries for the invasion of Ukraine?
In February of 2022, Russian soldiers crossed the borders into Ukraine; ultimately instigating a combat war after years of budding tension.
Follow our Ukraine Russia invasion live blog for the very latest news and updates…
Russia is reportedly set to deploy around 1,000 mercenaries to Ukraine in the coming weeks, which could quickly escalate the bloodshed.
"We've seen some indications that [mercenaries are] being employed," said a US senior defense official, according to CNN.
The official added that the increase in combat could cause Russia to "bombard cities into submission."
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