Russia urged to fight against the recruitment of Colombians to the Ukrainian Army

Published at: 25/06/2025 03:22 PM

The ambassador of the Russian Federation in Bogotá, Colombia, Nikolay Tavdumadze, stated that Moscow expects more decisive action to prevent New Granada citizens from traveling to Ukraine “thinking of filling their pockets”. This request underlines Russia's concern about the involvement of “soldiers of fortune” in the Ukrainian conflict.

Colombian authorities discouraged mercenarism and have asked their citizens not to get involved. Data from the Russian Defense Ministry indicate that “Colombians continue to be the foreign nationality with the largest presence in the Ukrainian ranks.”

The Russian embassy in Bogota has even received requests for help in locating relatives who left for Ukraine. According to the Moscow-based Ministry of Defense, more than 13,300 mercenaries had arrived in Ukraine since the start of the “special military operation” and until March 2025. The Colombian ambassador in Moscow, Hector Arena, estimated that between 70 and 80 compatriots had lost their lives from January to April 2025.

By the end of 2024, the Colombian foreign minister, Luis Gilberto Murillo, revealed that, according to a Russian report, more than 500 had participated in the war, leaving at least more than 300 dead and approximately 100 deserters since the beginning of the Ukrainian conflict.

Mazo News Team