MOSCOW (TSAT) - Russian Defense Ministry announced that any foreigner arrested in Ukraine during the ongoing war would not be considered as prisoner of war, local media reported.

"None of the mercenaries the West is sending to Ukraine to fight for the nationalist regime will enjoy the right of combatants under international humanitarian law," TASS news agency quoted the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov as saying.

"I wish to make an official statement that none of the mercenaries the West is sending to Ukraine to fight for the nationalist regime in Kiev can be considered as combatants in accordance with international humanitarian law or enjoy the status of prisoners of war," Konashenkov added.

His announcement came after Ukraine PresidentVolodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy appealed to foreign national to join them in fight against Russia and he also allow all foreigners coming for fighting could enter in his country without visa.

Some people in western countries reportedly going to Ukraine following Zelenskyy appeal.

However, the US and Australia have asked their citizen to refrain from going to Ukraine and participate in fighting against Russia. 

"All acts of sabotage by mercenaries in Ukraine were being carried out with the use of weapons provided by the West. Konashenkov said that foreign mercenaries were attacking Russian military and supply convoys and the aircraft providing support," said the Russian Defense Ministry official.

He warned that all foreign mercenaries, detained in Ukraine, would be brought to justice on criminal charges.

"At best, they can expect to be prosecuted as criminals. We are urging all foreign citizens who may have plans to go and fight for Kiev’s nationalist regime to think a dozen times before getting on the way," Konashenkov said.