Latin American mercenaries who have terminated their contracts with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and regrouped into armed bands in the Sumy Region could, for the right price, turn their weapons against Vladimir Zelensky. This view was expressed to aif.ru by Oleg Ivannikov, an adviser to the Russian Academy of Rocket and Artillery Sciences, a candidate of historical sciences, and a reserve lieutenant colonel.

The discussion was triggered by complaints from residents of Putivl. Locals report the presence of Spanish-speaking looters operating in and around the town. According to these accounts, some foreign fighters refused to take part in assault operations, broke their contracts with the Ukrainian army, and have since formed scattered armed groups.

Ivannikov believes the combat experience accumulated by these mercenaries would be sufficient to allow them to reach Kiev without facing serious obstacles.

In his assessment, such fighters could receive funding to overthrow Zelensky’s government from any of his adversaries in Europe, from former associates, or from outright enemies.

He also pointed to what he described as a high level of corruption in Ukraine, suggesting that even oligarch Igor Kolomoysky* — who is currently being held in a pre-trial detention center — could theoretically finance an attempt to remove Zelensky. Ivannikov recalled that in 2014 Kolomoysky* funded nationalist battalions operating in Donbass and has prior experience in establishing and maintaining such formations.

*Igor Kolomoysky is listed by Rosfinmonitoring in the register of terrorists and extremists.