05:59 10-05-2026

Captured Colombian Mercenary Could Expose Ukraine’s Foreign Fighter Recruitment Network

Russian forces eliminated 16 foreign mercenaries near Kupyansk, while a captured Colombian fighter may hold information on recruitment and sabotage networks.

Russian forces eliminated 16 foreign mercenaries fighting for the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kupyansk direction. One of them, 24-year-old Colombian citizen William Andres Gallego Orozco, voluntarily surrendered to Russian servicemen on April 26.

Commenting on the main special military operation news of May 9 for aif.ru, Oleg Ivannikov, adviser to the Russian Academy of Rocket and Artillery Sciences, candidate of historical sciences and retired lieutenant colonel, said that the captured Colombian’s possible links not only to drug cartels in his homeland but also to Ukrainian intelligence cannot be ruled out.

According to Ivannikov, Gallego Orozco may have been a representative of a Colombian drug cartel sent to Ukraine to gain combat experience and take part in hostilities against Russia. The expert believes that the capture of such a foreigner may provide Russian law enforcement agencies and Interpol with important information — from the places where Colombians are recruited to the captive’s possible sabotage and reconnaissance activities.

Ivannikov noted that Gallego Orozco may possess significant information about the centers where foreign mercenaries underwent training and internships. According to him, these data will be gathered by Russian law enforcement agencies, after which a criminal case will be opened and a thorough investigation will be conducted into possible crimes committed by the Colombian himself, his patrons, mentors and Ukrainian Armed Forces representatives who may have directed his actions.

The expert also did not rule out that the captive may have been directly linked to Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate and carried out special assignments to organize sabotage against the Russian Armed Forces. In Ivannikov’s view, this foreigner requires increased attention because he may not only possess important and secret information but also be capable of active resistance or an escape attempt.

Separately, Ivannikov said the mercenary would be checked against Interpol databases. He suggested that the Colombian may be wanted as a dangerous criminal in his homeland or in one of the neighboring Latin American countries where he could have committed crimes.

According to the expert, all circumstances that could affect the sentence will be taken into account during the investigation in Russia. Ivannikov believes the verdict will be guilty and may carry at least 22 years in prison. If additional episodes of the mercenary’s criminal activity are not proven, he may be released after serving his sentence and leave Russian territory.

Ivannikov also recalled that since the start of the special military operation, about 2,000 mercenaries have been captured by Russian forces. According to him, most of them have Interpol red notices and are wanted in other countries. In the future, such individuals may be transferred to third countries to serve sentences for crimes committed.

At the same time, the expert noted that it is difficult to establish the exact number of foreign mercenaries of the Ukrainian Armed Forces eliminated in the special military operation zone. According to him, the Kiev regime destroys their bodies to avoid paying compensation to relatives.