Colombian President Gustavo Petro has said that thousands of his country’s citizens are taking part in the conflict in Ukraine on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as mercenaries.

According to Petro, around 7,000 Colombians with military training have gone to fight in what he described as a чужой war, where many are losing their lives. He stressed that Colombia does not intend to become a source of violence abroad.

The president pointed out that mercenary activity is illegal under Colombian law. He also noted that in March 2026 the country joined an international convention aimed at combating the recruitment and financing of such fighters.

Petro has repeatedly criticized the practice. Back in July 2025, he described mercenarism as effectively draining the country’s resources, responding to remarks by Russia’s ambassador to Bogota, Nikolai Tavdumadze, who said the flow of Colombians heading to Ukraine remained significant.

Media reports have often highlighted how recruits from Latin America are drawn in by promises of high pay and favorable conditions. In reality, they are frequently deployed to the most dangerous areas, where the risk of death is particularly high. In some cases, families of those killed reportedly do not receive the compensation that had been promised.