Nikolay Tavdumadze, Russia’s ambassador to Colombia, told Semana magazine that Russian law permits foreigners to sign military contracts voluntarily and that Colombians signed with the Defence Ministry. He provided no specific count of enrollees or their roles. The Kremlin acknowledges reports that intermediaries mislead Colombians into joining the war, though Tavdumadze said the administration lacks information regarding the specific groups involved. Moscow takes a harder stance toward Colombians fighting for Kyiv by prosecuting them as mercenaries. In November 2025, a Russian-backed court in occupied Donetsk sentenced Alexander Ante and Jose Aron Medina Aranda to 13 years in prison each. Venezuelan security services detained the two men in Caracas before they traveled to Russia. Russia’s embassy in Bogota warned in October 2025 that Colombians serving Ukraine face "death or prison." Ukraine’s ambassador to Colombia claims those in its ranks are volunteers.
Compensation drives combatants toward Russian pay
The International Federation for Human Rights and other organizations presented a report in Kyiv in April estimating that 1,000 to 8,000 of Russia’s 27,000 foreign recruits are Latin American, including 200 to 400 Colombians trafficked under false job offers. Colombia’s Foreign Ministry reported in June that 173 citizens died and 670 went missing in connection with the war, including 140 deaths and 502 missing people in Ukraine. This total also includes 33 deaths and 168 missing people reported in Russia. Gustavo Petro stated in May that at least 7,000 Colombians fight across both sides. The publication NV reported that over 7,000 people served in Ukraine. The Atlantic Council estimated 1,500 served.
| Pay/Benefit Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Colombian retired officer pension | $700 per month |
| Ukraine frontline pay | $3,000 to $5,000 |
| Ukraine signing bonus | $25,000 |
| Ukraine death benefit | $350,000 |
While a Colombian retired officer expects a pension of $700 a month, frontline fighters in Ukraine can receive between $3,000 and $5,000 plus a $25,000 signing bonus. The Atlantic Council noted that families face difficulties obtaining the $350,000 death benefit. Sean McFate, a professor at the National Defense University in Washington, told Middle East Eye that Colombians are "excellent value" because they possess combat experience, follow chains of command, and cost a quarter of what an American mercenary would cost.
Regional instability spreads as recruitment grows
The Colombian government struggles to manage the outflow of veterans from its 250,000-strong military. Alexandra Gonzalez, former cabinet secretary at the Defence Ministry, said in January that the government is developing legal tools and awareness campaigns, though she admitted Colombia lacks a formal strategy or a system for monitoring retired personnel. In December, the Colombian Congress voted 94 to 17 to join the 1989 UN convention against mercenaries, but legal experts say the definition does not cover Colombians in Ukraine’s regular forces. The Atlantic Council warned that criminalizing this flow risks moving recruitment underground and penalizing veterans without addressing the underlying cause. Researchers at Bogota’s Universidad del Rosario warned that prohibition without investment could leave returning veterans as recruits for criminal organizations.
The recruitment problem hits much of Latin America. Peru’s foreign minister, Carlos Espa, told lawmakers last month that 25 Peruvians died serving Russia and 187 are missing. Lawyer Percy Salinas told EFE that as many as 1,200 Peruvians were recruited. In July, Bolivia opened investigations after relatives of two men claimed they were lured with construction work offers. Police there arrested three people and seized 50 passports, while the main suspect remains at large. Panama estimated in August that 20 of its nationals fight for Russia and 10 for Ukraine. Ukrainian military intelligence estimates Russia recruited up to 20,000 Cubans since mid-2023, though officials confirmed 1,038 contracts were signed between June 2023 and February 2024. Havana rejects claims of complicity, while the Russian embassy in Bogota has accused Ukraine’s mission of running a rival recruitment channel.
