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Bolivia confirms 26 citizens linked to Russian army
🇧🇴 Bolivia /Conflict & Security

Bolivia confirms 26 citizens linked to Russian army

From El Deber · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Context piece
  • Bolivia's foreign ministry confirmed 26 Bolivian citizens have been linked to Russia's armed forces fighting in Ukraine.
  • Of these, 20 have active military contracts, four were injured, one died, and one has been repatriated.
  • The government is working with Russian authorities to track and assist its citizens involved in the conflict.

The Bolivian government has confirmed that 26 of its citizens have been identified as being linked to Russia's armed forces, with many reportedly involved in the conflict in Ukraine. Foreign Minister Fernando Aramayo provided details on the situation, stating that diplomatic and consular efforts are underway to assist these individuals and coordinate with Russian authorities.

The government of Bolivia confirmed that 26 Bolivian citizens have been identified and remain under monitoring for their link to the Russian Armed Forces within the framework of the war with Ukraine.

— Fernando AramayoThe Foreign Minister's statement confirming the number of Bolivians involved with the Russian military.

According to Aramayo's statement, 20 Bolivians currently hold active military contracts with Russia. The status of 19 other soldiers remains unconfirmed regarding their current location. The ministry also reported that four citizens have sustained injuries and are receiving treatment in field hospitals, with one undergoing a process to be discharged from Russian military service.

The official tally also includes one Bolivian national who has died and another who has been successfully repatriated to Bolivia. A further individual is reported to be alive and in stable condition. The Foreign Ministry began addressing these cases in November 2025, after the current administration became aware of allegations concerning the recruitment of Bolivians for the war.

Of the 26 registered cases, 20 Bolivians maintain active military contracts.

— Fernando AramayoDetails provided by the Foreign Minister on the status of Bolivian citizens.

A consular mission traveled to Donetsk between June 6 and 9, 2026, to personally verify the situation of one Bolivian citizen, facilitate his disengagement from the Russian Army, and oversee his medical care. Aramayo also held a high-level meeting on July 17 with the Russian Ambassador to Bolivia, Dmitry Verchanko, to establish a bilateral roadmap and a direct channel for information exchange to prioritize these cases. Bolivia has sent diplomatic notes requesting information and offering consular assistance, and has worked to secure the release of its citizens from Russian forces when possible.

The official balance also accounts for one deceased Bolivian, one citizen who was successfully repatriated to the country, and another who remains alive and in stable condition.

— Fernando AramayoForeign Minister's update on the casualties and repatriation efforts.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Deber in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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