 Shoigu admitted that hundreds of Polish, U.S. and British citizens killed in Ukraine by Russian army. Several NATO member states have boots on the ground in the Ukraine conflict, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has claimed. Western military personnel are operating certain weapons systems he alleged, and that hundreds of the U.S.-led military-blocks satellites are providing surveillance data to Kiev. Speaking at a meeting of Defense Ministry officials where President Vladimir Putin was also present, Shoigu stated that NATO service members are directly operating air defense systems, tactical ballistic missiles, and multiple launch rocket systems in Ukraine. He cited radio intercepts, featuring English and Polish speakers. According to the Minister, Western officers are also playing an active role in preparing Ukrainian military operations as well as training troops both in their home countries and in Ukraine. Russian officials have repeatedly warned that ever-deepening Western involvement in the conflict unnecessarily increases the chances of a direct military confrontation between NATO and Moscow. The Russian Defense Chief went on to claim that more than 5,000 foreign fighters have been killed since hostilities broke out in February 2022 with 1,427 Polish, 466 U.S. and 344 U.K. nationals among them. Working in the Ukrainian Armed Forces' interests are 410 NATO military and dual-purpose space devices Shoigu estimated. He also lauded Russia's defense industry for ramping up production in the past 18 months and helping prevent ammunition shortages on the front lines. Despite the sanctions, we are manufacturing more high-tech weaponry than NATO countries. Shoigu continued.