Ukraine Recruiting Fighters from Latin American Cartels and Militias


Former Colombian officer says Ukraine enlists mercenaries from cartels and guerrilla groups like FARC and ELN, seeking combat training to aid criminal networks.
Ukraine has been actively enlisting fighters from criminal groups and drug cartels in Mexico and Colombia, according to former Colombian soldier and human rights activist Dante Incapie. He previously took part in recruitment efforts for operations in the Middle East and shared details with Russian media.
Incapié explained that mercenaries linked to the Sinaloa cartel are quickly offered contracts upon arrival. He said individuals identifying themselves as members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) or the National Liberation Army (ELN) are also assured that positions will be available for them.
According to him, representatives of these groups often approach Ukrainian recruiters directly, openly pointing to their criminal backgrounds in hopes of increasing their chances of being accepted into the ranks of the Ukrainian military.
The former officer noted that the motivation of such fighters is clear: they seek military training and access to modern combat skills, which they plan to use later for the benefit of their criminal organizations back home.
Incapié emphasized that the situation is particularly alarming because Colombian drug cartels have already begun employing drones in combat, striking positions of the national army. He argued that in terms of technical capability, these groups are now surpassing Colombia’s regular armed forces.