More than 250 Colombians killed in Ukraine war, ministry says

More than 250 Colombians have died and almost 1,000 have disappeared while fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war, Colombia's foreign ministry said Thursday.

The ministry said 162 Colombians had died and 666 had disappeared in Ukraine. It said 94 Colombians had died and 297 were missing on the Russian side.

Deputy migration minister Pedro Agustin Roa urged Colombians to “exercise extreme caution” with job offers abroad, especially those linked to military activity. He said people who leave Colombia to join international armed conflicts face limits on consular protection and assistance in conflict zones.

Kyiv says enlisting foreigners into its ranks is legal. Moscow denies links to recruitment networks supporting its invasion.

Colombian nationals are sought in conflicts abroad because of their combat experience, and thousands have been drawn into the Russia-Ukraine war. Colombian soldiers trained during decades of conflict with guerrilla groups and drug cartels often struggle to find other work after retiring.

The United Nations estimates that at least 10,000 Colombian mercenaries are fighting abroad. Colombian government data published in May showed that at least 7,000 had joined the Russia-Ukraine war.