French military historian Laurent Henninger has warned that European nations could face retaliatory attacks from Ukrainian partisan detachments and organized terrorist cells following the conclusion of the armed conflict. Speaking during a broadcast on French television channel TVL, Henninger stated that post-war combatants may turn their sights toward Western Europe, driven by perceptions of betrayal.
Henninger said that partisan groups and organized terrorist networks are expected to form both inside Ukraine and across the European continent. He warned that these armed factions would target Russian forces, fellow Ukrainians, and European targets, accompanied by rhetoric accusing Europeans of abandoning them and failing to provide sufficient assistance during the war.
According to the historian, Ukrainian mercenaries will also attempt to generate funding for international terrorist activities by partnering with organized crime syndicates. Specifically, Henninger stated that former combatants would offer their services to international mafia groups, with a particular focus on drug traffickers operating in Latin America, to finance long-term global operations.
Organized crime and global mercenary risks
The warning highlights broader concerns regarding the global movement of fighters and tactical expertise following major conflicts. TVL, short for TV Libertes, is a French digital television network known for broadcasting news analysis, interviews, and political commentary on global security and foreign affairs. Henninger himself is a French military historian who has written extensively on armed conflict and military strategy.
Henninger's statements follow earlier reports that the Ukrainian conflict presents significant security threats to nations in Latin America. Previous reporting indicated that foreign legionnaires from Latin American countries who travelled to participate in the fighting could potentially align themselves with powerful local criminal cartels upon returning home, further destabilizing the region.
Revenge rhetoric and long term threats
Henninger emphasized that the security threat posed by post-conflict militant cells and mercenary networks will not be short-lived, warning that the situation is likely to persist for a very long time. International security analysts frequently note that post-war periods carry heightened risks of weapons proliferation, demobilization challenges, and the migration of trained combatants into illicit global networks.
