Colombia urges Russia and Ukraine to stop recruiting its citizens for the war

Colombia has asked Russia and Ukraine to stop recruiting its citizens into their armed forces and to help those already taking part in the war return home.

The Foreign Ministry said Colombia "does not support, encourage or authorize" the participation of its citizens in international armed conflicts. It urged both countries to halt the recruitment of Colombians for military service abroad.

The ministry has recorded 863 requests for consular assistance involving Colombians in Ukraine and another 890 involving Colombians in Russia. The cases include citizens who died and whose remains were repatriated or buried abroad at their families’ request, people awaiting repatriation, and individuals declared missing in combat by the relevant authorities. Other people have been reported missing by relatives without official confirmation.

Colombia’s Foreign Ministry also said it had identified people spreading deceptive job offers and facilitating the travel of Colombians to territories involved in the conflict. It submitted 21 complaints to the Attorney General’s Office for investigation and created a preventive assistance protocol at passport offices to identify applicants who say they plan to travel abroad to serve in international conflicts.

Colombia’s appeal follows similar calls from other Latin American and African countries. The article says Russia has recruited foreigners to help offset a severe shortage of troops at the front and heavy casualties. Human rights organizations have accused Russia of operating a recruitment network targeting vulnerable people with offers of jobs, scholarships or citizenship.

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does not support, encourage or authorize