Juan Carlos Ávila Espaillat injured in Ukraine conflict

Juan Carlos Ávila Espaillat, a Dominican national fighting alongside Russian forces in the war against Ukraine, has reportedly sustained serious leg injuries. According to testimony from his brother, Carlos Ávila, the incident occurred when Ávila Espaillat’s unit was pursued by a kamikaze drone that exploded near the group.

During an attempt to escape the area, Ávila Espaillat and a companion reportedly encountered landmines. An explosion from one of these devices caused a severe injury to his lower limb. He is currently under Russian control in a secure location and is expected to undergo surgery to remove metal fragments from his leg. While there were initial fears of amputation, medical specialists believe it may be possible to save the limb, though recovery will be lengthy.

The brother also reported that Camilo Vargas, a Colombian combatant previously seen in videos with Ávila Espaillat, allegedly died during the same incident. As of now, there has been no official confirmation regarding these events from the authorities of the Dominican Republic, Russia, or Ukraine.