Ukraine Enlists 2,000 Colombians to Reinforce Front Lines Against Russia
Ukraine has signed up approximately 2,000 Colombian nationals as contract soldiers to help fill critical manpower gaps nearly four years into its war with Russia, according to German media.
The recruits are among thousands of foreign fighters currently serving in Ukraine’s armed forces, about 40 percent of whom come from South America, with some brigades forming Spanish-speaking units made up almost entirely of Colombians.
“Many come without any military experience whatsoever,” Die Welt reported, quoting a Ukrainian commander identified by the codename “Musician,” who leads an infantry unit under the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade.
“But there are also some who previously served with the Colombian special forces or the police in Colombia or Brazil — though these are few.”
“Musician,” a former piano teacher now leading combat training for South American volunteers, said recruits undergo at least a month of instruction before being deployed to the front.
“My fighters fulfill their duties — and very successfully. I try to convey to them that they are accomplishing something great here, something that affects us all,” the commander stated.
Recruitment Push
President Volodymyr Zelensky first appealed for foreign volunteers shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, from which around 8,000 personnel from 65 countries have joined Kyiv’s ground forces, many through the Ukrainian International Legion of Territorial Defence.
The recruitment drive has intensified as Ukraine faces challenges replenishing its ranks, with mobilization still restricted to men aged 25 and older and a recent policy allowing those between 18 and 22 to leave the country further shrinking available manpower.
Currently, Russian forces outnumber Ukrainian troops by as much as seven to one in certain areas.
Pay and Risk
Ukrainian officials said that higher pay is one reason foreign fighters are joining the ranks. In Colombia, military salaries are only a fraction of what Ukraine offers, with frontline soldiers earning around 3,000 euros ($3,446) a month.
Although foreign recruits receive the same pay and benefits as Ukrainian troops and can end their contracts at any time, the risks of war remain severe.
Ukrainian economist Roman Sheremeta reported that as of October 2025, 348 Colombians had been killed in combat, along with hundreds of other foreign volunteers.
