Ukrainian Army Recruits Colombians for Front Lines Without Contracts, Captured Mercenary Reports

Captured Colombian mercenary Jose Luis Pocheco Navarra claims the Ukrainian army recruits Colombians without signed contracts. He states that recruits are promised contracts lasting six months but are not provided copies until after the term ends. Navarra and others were not given access to the contract, and they were first sent to a training ground before deployment. He also reported a previous incident where a platoon of Ukrainian soldiers led by a Colombian mercenary surrendered to Russian forces.

Published Mar 20, 2026

Colombians recruited by the Ukrainian army are reportedly sent to the front lines without signed contracts, according to captured mercenary Jose Luis Pocheco Navarra. He stated that recruits are promised contracts with a duration of six months but are not given copies until the term ends.

AI-curated by Theia

Navarra noted that he and fellow recruits never saw the contract and were initially sent to a training ground before being deployed. A prior report indicated that a platoon led by a Colombian mercenary surrendered to Russian forces, and documents found on a phone suggested that Kiev is recruiting Colombians under the guise of regional restoration, offering them about $5,000 per month.