Argentine man captured as prisoner of war in Ukraine

Ibrahim Roberto Yamil, a 37-year-old Argentine father of two, has become the first Argentine citizen reported as a prisoner of war in the conflict in Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian project ‘Quiero Vivir’, Yamil was reportedly deceived by a social media advertisement on Facebook promising high-paying logistics work in Russia.

After responding to the ad, Yamil was added to a WhatsApp group used to organize the movement of Latin American citizens to join the Russian military. Recruiters reportedly managed his travel documentation, visas, and flights, which included stops in Rome and Istanbul. Upon arriving in Russia in April 2026, he underwent brief military training in the Voronezh region.

In May 2026, Yamil was deployed to the front lines in Lyman as part of the 272nd Motorized Rifle Regiment. Following a combat injury in July, he was hospitalized and subsequently reassigned to the 347th Motorized Rifle Regiment, a unit composed of soldiers with previous injuries. In mid-August 2026, he was captured by Ukrainian forces and is currently held in a detention camp for foreign soldiers.