MOSCOW. Dec 18 (Interfax) - Russian authorities suspect a Brazilian citizen in absentia of acting as a mercenary and committing a terrorist act in the Kursk region, Russia's Investigative Committee said.
"A criminal case has been opened against citizen of Brazil Lucas Ribeiro de Jesus. He is suspected in absentia of acting as a mercenary and perpetrating a terrorist act in the Kursk region," the Investigative Committee said in a statement on its Telegram channel on Wednesday.
The Brazilian is believed "to be directly involved in the armed conflict in the territory of the Russian Federation as a mercenary," it said.
"He and other mercenaries, acting together with representatives of Ukrainian armed units, illegally crossed the state border of the Russian Federation and intruded into the Kursk region in September 2024," it said.
In the Kursk region, the Brazilian "used torture and physical violence against two Russian soldiers and then killed them," the Investigative Committee said.
"Investigators are taking all measures to establish the whereabouts of the suspect and his accomplices," it said.