Ukraine Embassy Denies Panamanian Fighters Are Mercenaries, Accuses Russia of Predatory Recruitment

The Ukrainian Embassy in Panama has issued a strong rebuttal against what it calls "false and manipulative publications" concerning Panamanian citizens fighting in Ukraine. The embassy aims to present an objective view and counter hostile information campaigns, asserting that these individuals are not mercenaries.

According to the embassy's statement, Ukraine adheres to the International Convention Against the Recruitment, Use, Financing, and Training of Mercenaries. Ukrainian law prohibits illegal armed formations and mercenary activities. The embassy clarifies that foreign volunteers, including Panamanians, are officially integrated into the Ukrainian Armed Forces or National Guard, based on military service laws. Their remuneration is aligned with that of Ukrainian military personnel.

Under the Geneva Conventions, these foreign fighters possess legitimate combatant status, complete with insurance, equipment, and legal protection from the Ukrainian state, including a Military Ombudsman institution. The embassy labels any accusations of mercenary involvement as "deliberate disinformation," emphasizing that Panamanians defending Ukraine's sovereignty do so on a legal basis.

Conversely, the embassy accuses the Russian Federation of engaging in "criminal mercenary practices," particularly through private military companies. It alleges a systematic policy of "predatory recruitment," citing a European Parliament resolution. Russia is accused of coercively and fraudulently recruiting vulnerable individuals from Latin America, Africa, and Asia through deceptive job offers and educational schemes. The statement claims that following significant losses, the Russian military command uses these foreign recruits as "expendable infantry" in high-risk operations, with a short battlefield lifespan.

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restablecer una visión objetiva de la situación y proteger a la opinión pública frente a operaciones de información hostiles