About 16,000 foreign volunteers from 72 countries are serving in the Ukrainian Defense Forces
About 16,000 foreign volunteers from at least 72 countries are currently serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Nearly 40% of them are citizens of Latin American countries. At the same time, the Office of the Military Ombudsman has already received more than 300 complaints regarding the protection of the rights of foreign service members.
According to Reshetilova, since the Office of the Military Ombudsman began its work on January 27, it has received over 300 complaints from foreign volunteers, their families, and authorized representatives.
“About 16,000 foreign volunteers from at least 72 countries around the world are defending Ukraine today. Nearly 40% of them are citizens of Latin American countries. Our country honors the contribution of foreign servicemen and recognizes its responsibility to uphold their rights,” noted Olga Reshetilova.
The Office of the Military Ombudsman reported that the most common complaints concern:
- payment of salaries and other due benefits;
- granting combatant status;
- early termination of contracts;
- medical care and treatment.
A special working group has been established in Ukraine to support foreign volunteers, which assists service members at all stages of their service—from the beginning until their discharge or return home.
The Office of the Military Ombudsman emphasized that it responds to every report of possible violations of military personnel’s rights, regardless of whether the information was received through an official complaint, the media, or foreign civil society organizations.
This was reported by Military Ombudsman Olga Reshetilova.
To address the personnel shortage, Ukrainian authorities are offering foreign volunteers increased pay and new terms of service in infantry and assault units.
As a reminder, the “RUG” unit, part of the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade “Magura,” includes about 2,000 Colombian citizens.
A volunteer from Colombia, who had been fighting Russian aggression in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine since December 2022, was killed in the war in Ukraine.
