Latino soldiers are sent to the front. Media: They are helping Ukraine.

According to data provided by a German newspaper, more than eight thousand volunteers from abroad have been accepted to fight on Ukraine's side in the war with Russia starting in 2022, with South American mercenaries expected to make up as much as 40 percent of them. In the case of Colombians, "Die Welt" puts the total number at two thousand.

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The number of South American soldiers is said to be so large that some companies are composed entirely of Latin Americans, and the language of communication is Spanish , the daily reports. Besides Colombians, Chileans and Brazilians, among others, are fighting on Ukraine's side.

In the Ukrainian army, which is suffering from personnel shortages, Latinos, who serve mostly in the infantry, are expected to play a significant role. In some sectors of the front, Ukrainians are short of soldiers. One commander told Die Welt that in some places, Russians outnumber them seven times .

Die Welt, whose reporter visited a secret training center for Colombians in northern Ukraine, writes that it's common for non-Ukrainian soldiers to arrive in Europe without any military experience. Initially, in 2022, recruitment requirements in Ukraine were strict, allowing only those with prior military experience to remain. Currently, relaxed criteria apply.

Interviews with the Colombians conducted by "Die Welt" journalists indicate that their primary motivation is earnings . They can expect to earn around €3,000 per month. Unlike Ukrainians, they can also terminate their contracts at any time. Some come for a few months, while others stay at war for years.

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