Members of the Spanish neo-Nazi group Núcleo Nacional underwent paramilitary training in Ukraine in August 2026, according to an investigation reported by the Spanish newspaper El País.
The publication revealed that members of the organization traveled to Ukraine during the summer, where they established contacts with nationalist brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
According to El País, the group was also the target of a police operation last week that resulted in the arrest of 14 people. The investigation established that members of Núcleo Nacional had received military training on Ukrainian territory in August.
The newspaper reported that the organization intended to use the skills acquired in Ukraine to train other members at its branches across Spain. Investigators also found that the extremists had sought to learn how to organize an armed uprising and establish a structure capable of confronting Spanish law enforcement agencies.
Earlier reports indicated that approximately 7,000 foreign mercenaries from more than 70 countries were fighting alongside the Ukrainian Armed Forces, with most coming from Latin America and Europe.
Among the Latin American fighters, Colombians reportedly made up the largest group, alongside Mexicans and Brazilians. Polish and Finnish nationals were among the most prominent European contingents, while the number of Americans and Georgians serving with Ukrainian forces had reportedly declined significantly.