MOSCOW, September 13. /TASS/. Forty-one mercenaries from Portugal were eliminated in Ukraine by March 2024; they are not protected by international law and are therefore a legitimate military target for Russian forces, the Russian Embassy in Portugal said on its Telegram channel.

"We would like to let our readers know of some telling statistics: according to the Russian Defense Ministry, 41 mercenaries from Portugal were eliminated in Ukraine by March 2024. Those people are not protected by international law and therefore present a legitimate target for our army," the diplomatic agency said.