Sumy, Ukraine — Russia has accused Ukraine of deploying “foreign mercenaries” from Latin America to bolster its frontline units in the Sumy region, raising new tensions over Kyiv’s widening recruitment of international fighters amid its grinding war with Moscow. The report, issued by the Russian Ministry of Defense on Friday, asserts that Colombian and Brazilian nationals are embedded with Ukraine’s 47th Mechanized Brigade.
Moscow’s allegations, delivered via state-run media, come as Ukraine continues to leverage its International Legion, a military structure formally established in 2022 to accommodate foreign volunteers. This force has attracted thousands from over 50 countries, including combat veterans, police officers, and former special forces soldiers, lured by a mixture of ideological solidarity and competitive pay.
While the presence of foreign fighters on Ukraine’s side is no longer surprising, Russia’s deliberate emphasis on “Latin American mercenaries” signals an attempt to stoke a perception of illegitimacy, framing Ukraine’s defense efforts as driven by profit-seeking outsiders rather than national resistance. Russian sources claimed these fighters are “actively participating in combat” and acting “under contract” with Ukrainian brigades. Yet the term “mercenary” remains legally and politically charged, its use suggesting unauthorized or unlawful involvement under international law, a characterization Ukraine strongly rejects.
The International Legion, formed with government oversight, provides foreign volunteers with clear command structure, uniforms, and Geneva Convention protections. Numerous independent investigations, including reports by The Wall Street Journal and Reuters, have verified that Colombian veterans, many with experience from elite counterinsurgency units, have indeed joined Ukrainian forces. These recruits often cite moral conviction and economic incentive, with combat roles reportedly earning upwards of $3,000 per month.
Russia’s claim appears aimed at discrediting Ukraine’s use of international support by portraying it as outsourced warfare, drawing on post-colonial narratives and anti-globalist rhetoric. But Ukraine has long positioned its international fighters as a sign of global solidarity against Russian aggression, not a mercenary enterprise.
According to TASS, a Russian military source stated that not only Brazilians and Colombians, but also individuals from Britain, Poland, Japan, and other Latin American nations are embedded near the Sumy front. However, independent verification of the specific combat unit affiliations, numbers involved, or their alleged role under contract remains unavailable. Without that, the Kremlin’s framing remains speculative and politically motivated.
