Why are so many Colombians preventing for Ukraine? – Reporters | EUROtoday
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On essentially the most harmful components of Ukraine’s entrance line, it is virtually as frequent as of late to listen to Spanish as Ukrainian. Many Colombian troopers are actually preventing in Ukraine, lured by the comparatively excessive salaries, but in addition by a way of journey and of serving to trigger. Our reporters Gulliver Cragg and Catalina Gomez travelled round Colombia and Ukraine to know what drives these males to go to battle and what their households assume.
According to an investigation by the Ukrainian media NV earlier this yr, upwards of seven,000 Colombians have fought within the Ukrainian armed forces since 2022. At first, like different international fighters who responded to President Volodymyr Zelensky’s name for assist that yr, Colombian troopers volunteered and made their very own approach to Ukraine. Since then, Ukrainian brigades have began providing to pay for his or her journey to the nation, the place they’re very a lot in demand.
As Kyiv struggles to recruit troopers for frontline positions, Colombians are attracted by the Ukrainian army’s excessive salaries. But additionally, in lots of circumstances, by a way of journey and quest for objective in life. Colombia’s 2016 peace settlement has left many troopers there feeling underused in addition to underpaid. Many have additionally gone to battle in different wars – in Yemen or Sudan, for instance – however Ukraine is the primary place the place they’re recruited formally into the host nation’s armed forces. There aren’t any official figures, however Ukrainian army sources estimate that some 40 % of all foreigners preventing for Ukraine right now are Colombian.
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Not all are becoming a member of the Ukrainian facet, nonetheless. Increasingly, Russia too is becoming a member of the primarily TikTok-based battle to recruit Colombians. A Colombian NGO that helps those that have disappeared says it’s a lot tougher to get any data in any respect from the Russians. Numerous Colombians are additionally with out information of their family members who went to battle for Ukraine. However, the truth that they do not all the time inform their family members what they’re doing complicates issues nonetheless additional. And whereas many Colombians report immediate and trustworthy funds and appear to develop a terrific affection for Ukraine, others report difficulties in getting their cash. Still extra are unprepared for the sheer brutality of the battle they’re heading to.
These points, together with the excessive mortality charge, imply that Colombian TikToks about Ukraine are as stuffed with warnings to not come as of encouragement to take action. Yet they maintain coming. Recruiters for Ukraine in Bogota advised our reporters they usually have extra requests for data than they are capable of reply to.
FRANCE 24’s Gulliver Cragg and Catalina Gomez travelled round Colombia and Ukraine to get a way of what motivates the Colombians to return, of how a lot their presence helps Ukraine – but in addition the ache it may deliver to their households.
https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/reporters/20260424-why-are-so-many-colombians-fighting-for-ukraine