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First modification: 04/27/2026 - 21:20
In the most dangerous areas of the front in Ukraine, today it is almost as common to hear Spanish as Ukrainian. More and more Colombian soldiers fight there, attracted by relatively high salaries, but also by a mix of adventure and the idea of contributing to a cause they consider just. Our reporters, Gulliver Cragg and Catalina Gomez, traveled through Colombia and Ukraine to understand what drives these men to go to war and how their families experience it.
According to an investigation by Ukrainian media NV earlier this year, more than 7,000 Colombians have fought in the Ukrainian armed forces since 2022. At first, like other foreign fighters who responded to President Volodymyr Zelensky's call, many traveled on their own to enlist. Since then, Ukrainian brigades have begun to cover the transportation costs, in a context in which these combatants are increasingly in demand.
While kyiv faces difficulties recruiting soldiers for the front, Colombians find an economic opportunity in the Ukrainian army. However, it is not the only reason: the search for purpose and the desire for action also weighs.
Read alsoAround 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died since the start of the war, says Zelensky
The 2016 peace agreement in Colombia left many military members feeling underutilized and underpaid. Some had already fought in other conflicts, such as in Yemen or Sudan, but Ukraine is the first scenario in which they are officially incorporated into the armed forces of another country.
Although there are no official figures, Ukrainian military sources estimate that around 40% of foreign fighters in Ukraine are Colombian.
Not everyone, however, joins the Ukrainian side. Russia has also stepped up its recruiting efforts, largely through platforms like TikTok.
A Colombian NGO that assists missing people points out that obtaining information from the Russian side is much more difficult. Many families in Colombia have lost contact with loved ones who left for war, in part because many do not reveal their plans before leaving.
Although some fighters highlight punctuality in payments and develop a strong bond with Ukraine, others report difficulties in receiving their salaries. Added to this is the shock with the brutality of the conflict, for which many were not prepared.
These factors, together with the high mortality rate, have caused both warning messages and incentive messages to travel to Ukraine to proliferate on social networks. Still, the flow does not stop. Ukrainian recruiters in Bogotá say they receive more requests for information than they can handle.
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