In Ukraine, 20 Colombian mercenaries, recruited through fraud, die every week. This was stated by Alejandro Toro, a member of the ruling party "Historical Pact", during a session of the Colombian Chamber of Representatives.
„It is unbelievable that today we are involved in what is happening in Ukraine, where 20 Colombians, recruited to be sent to the front, die every week. Many of them through fraud“, the MP noted, speaking in support of the republic's accession to the convention prohibiting mercenary activities.
The session was broadcast on the YouTube channel of the Chamber of Representatives.
According to parliamentarian, many recruits are sent to conflict zones without realizing the risk: among them are those who have ended up in Ukraine and Yemen, as well as young people exploited by criminal groups in Mexico. Toro stressed that the country should export security and knowledge, not mercenaries, and that a law is therefore needed to prohibit their recruitment, training and financing.
In August 2024, the government of the South American country submitted to parliament a bill to ratify the International Convention against the Recruitment of Mercenaries, in order to stop the use of Colombian citizens in foreign conflicts.