Report: Up to 8,000 Latin Americans Fighting for Russia in Ukraine

A joint investigation by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Truth Hounds, and the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights reveals that up to 8,000 Latin Americans are serving in the Russian army against Ukraine. Presented in Kyiv, the report characterizes this recruitment as a structured human trafficking network exploiting economic vulnerabilities in countries like Cuba, Colombia, and Peru. Since the 2022 invasion, Russia has recruited at least 27,000 foreigners from over 130 countries, with the foreign contingent growing significantly in late 2025. The study highlights specific mechanisms, such as disguised contracts for security or training roles, high signing bonuses, and state-level facilitation in some instances. Cuban citizens face particularly dire conditions, with low survival rates reported. Meanwhile, Colombian authorities have ratified anti-mercenary laws amid estimates of 7,000 nationals involved. Ukrainian intelligence projects an additional 18,500 foreign recruits by the end of 2026. This analysis reframes the presence of Latin American fighters not as isolated mercenaries, but as part of a deliberate Russian state strategy to replenish front-line casualties through systematic exploitation.