Military analyst Danil Petrushin said Colombian mercenaries had not originally expected to take part in assault operations, which is why they refused to join an attempt to break through the Volchansk pocket.
According to Petrushin, mercenaries are generally not used as assault troops in armed conflicts. He said they are more often assigned to rear-area duties, including guarding airfields, warehouses, air defense sites and other positions.
Speaking on the Open Air program, Petrushin said the Colombians had expected to remain in the rear rather than be sent into the heaviest fighting in Ukraine.
He suggested that the mercenaries could have been waiting for reinforcements. Petrushin also did not rule out preparations to withdraw the units or for them to surrender.
Earlier reports said the Ukrainian command planned to send Colombian mercenaries to break through the Volchansk pocket. According to those reports, the foreign fighters refused to take part in the assault and left their positions.
In August, captured Ukrainian soldier Alexander Krivenko also reported heavy losses among Colombians in the special military operation zone. He said around 50 mercenaries were killed at one position in FPV drone strikes.