Kathrine Frich
Russia has repeatedly relied on foreign nationals to bolster its war effort.
From North Korean troops to recruits from Africa, Asia and Latin America, Moscow has sought manpower far beyond its own borders.
Now, Ukrainian forces say two Colombian citizens have added to that list after being captured on the battlefield.
Detained near Pokrovsk
According to UNIAN, Ukrainian soldiers captured two Colombian nationals near Pokrovsk in the Donbas region.
The men had been fighting on the Russian side when they were taken prisoner.
The captives were detained by soldiers from Ukraine’s 425th Independent Assault Regiment “Skielia,” which later released details of the operation and a recording of a conversation with the detainees.
The Colombians told Ukrainian troops they had not come to Russia to fight, but to work.
Promises of work
The men said they were promised civilian jobs and assured they would not be sent to the front.
One said he had been offered work as a welder, while the other claimed he was told he would guard a gas processing plant.
“They said it was a job for a month at most. It turned out to be a lie,” one of the Colombians said.
According to UNIAN, the men were promised $2,500 a month but said they never received any payment.
Journey into war
The prisoners described a journey that began in Colombia and ended at the front line. “We flew from Bogotá to Istanbul. From Istanbul to Ufa,” one of them said.
“When we arrived in Ufa, they took our passports, phones, and all our documents,” he added.
“Three days later, they put us on a bus and drove us for about 36 hours to an unknown destination.”
The men said they only realized where they were after reaching the combat zone.
No shots fired
According to their account, they were deployed directly to the front despite repeated assurances they would not take part in fighting. One of the detainees said similar offers continue to attract Colombians to Russia.
“I believed what they told me: that the work would be safe, that they wouldn’t send us to the front,” he said.
The captives claimed they did not fire their weapons during their deployment, saying their magazines were still full when they were captured.
Sources: UNIAN, WP.
