Around 7,000 Colombians take part in Ukraine war, says President Petro

Approximately 7,000 Colombians with military training are taking part in the armed conflict in Ukraine, Colombian President Gustavo Petro said.

“In Ukraine, 7,000 Colombians with military training are fighting in a foreign war and dying for no reason. We do not want to export death. Mercenarism is prohibited by law,” he wrote on the social media platform X.

Hay 7.000 hombres de Colombia entrenados militarmente, luchando en una guerra ajena y muriendo sin causa en Ucrania.

No queremos exportar muerte
El mercenario está prohibido por ley https://t.co/rvOyf2VilA

— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) May 5, 2026

Earlier, in February 2026, The Economist reported a record number of Colombians participating in foreign armed conflicts. The publication noted that mercenaries are attracted by high salaries and employment opportunities, with recruitment mainly taking place through social networks.

In response to the rise in mercenary activity, in December 2025, the lower house of Colombia’s Congress approved a bill for the country’s accession to the UN Convention against the recruitment and use of mercenaries.

By Jeyhun Aghazada