Video: Two Russian foreign mercenaries surrendered to the Ukrainian Armed Forces
A video has been posted online showing the surrender of Colombian mercenaries whom the Russian command had sent to storm Ukrainian positions. The foreigners, recruited into the ranks of Russia’s occupying army, surrendered to soldiers of the 33rd Separate Mechanized Brigade to save their lives.
According to the Ukrainian military, Russia is actively recruiting foreigners due to heavy losses on the front lines, promising them high pay and service behind the lines.
However, according to the Ukrainian side, once the mercenaries arrive in Russia, they may be sent directly to the front lines in less than two months.
A Ukrainian servicemember recounted that during the handover of the foreign mercenaries, the parties essentially communicated through gestures.
“In the morning, a radio broadcast reported that Russian soldiers were approaching with assault rifles. The company commander called out: ‘Kuzya, go out and meet the Russian soldiers.’ I ran out to the woods, sat down, and watched—they were coming. As soon as they spotted me, they started laying their assault rifles on the road. The first one began to lie down, and the others followed right behind him... We communicated using sign language. I pointed right, left, and straight ahead. But they understood best when I said ‘Let’s go’—they ran like saigas,” recalls the Ukrainian soldier.
According to the prisoners, they had virtually no chance to retreat. Behind them, they claim, there might have been blocking detachments, and if they refused to take part in the assault, they faced imprisonment or execution.
The Ukrainian soldier stated that the Russian command forced the foreigners to take part in the assault under threat of execution.
“They were literally herded into the assault at gunpoint. Either you go storm the trenches, or you stay here as ‘casualties’—we’ll shoot you. They weren’t given any water or food. They spent 5–6 days without water or food,” the soldier said.
Ultimately, surrendering to the Ukrainian Defense Forces became an opportunity for the Colombians to avoid participating in the assaults.
According to the Ukrainian side, this incident illustrates the conditions under which the Russian command uses foreign mercenaries on the front lines.
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A video showing the surrender of foreign mercenaries has been posted online.
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