Ukraine can use any help in the fight against the Russian invaders.Image: keystone
November 7, 2025, 7:28 p.mNovember 7, 2025, 7:28 p.m
Several thousand foreign volunteers are currently fighting on the front in Ukraine against Russian troops. A majority of these fighters, an estimated 40 percent, come from South America, with Colombians making up the largest group. According to Ukrainian information, around 2,000 Colombians have so far entered the country as contract soldiers.
As a “Welt” reporter’s visit to one of the secret training camps shows, the immense influx has led to an unusual army organization: Ukrainian brigades now form entire companies that consist almost exclusively of South Americans – primarily Colombians, but also Chileans and Brazilians. This simplifies the training as usually only Spanish and Ukrainian need to be spoken.
The Ukrainian commander of one such unit, code name “Musician,” was a piano teacher before the war. Now he is training South Americans to become frontline soldiers in the northeast of the country.
Initially, only volunteers with previous military experience were allowed to join the International Legion. However, due to the great need for front-line soldiers, Ukraine has relaxed the requirements: many of the recruits now arrive with no combat experience at all. Although some former special forces or police officers from Colombia and Brazil also serve, they only represent a minority.
Foreign infantrymen are currently more important than ever for Kyiv. After almost four years of war, the Ukrainian army is struggling with an existential shortage of front-line soldiers. The mobilization age is 25 years, and recruitment programs for younger people have not been very successful recently. This personnel inferiority of Ukraine means that Russia achieves a superiority of up to 7:1 on some sections of the front and is able to advance slowly but steadily with high losses.
Money is a primary motivation
For many South Americans, signing is an economic decision. The Colombian Oliver (37), who previously served in his home country for 14 years and is now doing his second deployment in Ukraine, confirms this: While the pay in his homeland is extremely low, frontline soldiers in Ukraine earn up to 3,000 euros per month.
Iberson Raul Martinez (29), who fought criminals in his homeland, also wants to use the money to buy a piece of land in Colombia and build a house for his family. “For most of us, our families are our motivation,” he explains. But many would also simply like military life and war.
Iberson Martinez tells the “Welt” why he is fighting for Ukraine.image: screenshot youtube
In doing so, they are taking an immense risk; after all, hundreds of thousands of soldiers have already died in action. But unlike Ukrainian soldiers, foreigners can terminate their contract at any time. Martinez wants to stay as long as he can, while father of two Oliver wants to return to Colombia after his deployment and “just enjoy the time with my family”. Most volunteers from South America only fight on the front for a few months, others stay longer – up to three years. Ukraine can definitely use your help. (pre)