Russia denies recruiting Colombian mercenaries for Ukraine war

Russia Colombia mercenaries Ukraine war recruitment denial

Russia’s embassy in Colombia rejected a report that it was linked to recruitment networks of Colombian mercenaries fighting in Ukraine. The denial came after the Colombian news outlet Noticias Caracol published an investigation citing testimonies and documents that alleged Moscow was enlisting Colombians for the conflict.

The Russian diplomatic mission said it had “no relation with the recruiters mentioned in the report, nor the slightest idea of how they finance their activities.” Families of Colombians hired abroad – mainly retired soldiers – say their relatives have been mistreated in Russia and Ukraine. In November, a Russian court sentenced two Colombians to 13 years in prison for allegedly fighting on the side of Ukraine’s armed forces.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro claims at least 7,000 Colombians are fighting in Russia and Ukraine for money. The United Nations estimated in March that at least 10,000 Colombians have been recruited abroad for armed conflicts worldwide, often under inhuman conditions. Retired Colombian soldiers frequently struggle to find work, making them vulnerable to recruitment by conflict‑ridden countries such as Sudan, Yemen, Ukraine and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Entities: Colombia · Gustavo Petro · Noticias Caracol · Republic of Colombia · Russian Federation · United Nations

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 6 SOURCES] Family members of Colombians hired abroad reported mistreatment of their relatives in Russia and Ukraine. (d9c1dbfe-6d52-44d4-b4f2-86c8de459382)
[● 6 SOURCES] The United Nations estimated in March that at least 10,000 Colombians have been recruited abroad for armed conflicts worldwide. (d9c1dbfe-6d52-44d4-b4f2-86c8de459382)
[● 6 SOURCES] Colombian President Gustavo Petro says at least 7,000 Colombians are fighting in Russia and Ukraine for money. (d9c1dbfe-6d52-44d4-b4f2-86c8de459382)
[● 6 SOURCES] Retired Colombian soldiers often struggle to find work, making them vulnerable to recruitment by mercenary forces sought by conflict‑ridden countries. (d9c1dbfe-6d52-44d4-b4f2-86c8de459382)
[DISPUTED] Noticias Caracol published an investigation alleging Moscow enlisted Colombians as part of its strategy against Kyiv. (d9c1dbfe-6d52-44d4-b4f2-86c8de459382)
[DISPUTED] Russia's embassy in Colombia denied having ties to recruitment networks of Colombian mercenaries for the war in Ukraine. (d9c1dbfe-6d52-44d4-b4f2-86c8de459382)
[● 6 SOURCES] In November, Russia sentenced two Colombians to 13 years in prison for allegedly fighting for Ukraine's armed forces. (d9c1dbfe-6d52-44d4-b4f2-86c8de459382)