Latin American citizens account for 40% of the mercenaries fighting in the ranks of the Ukrainian army, Russian authorities said on Thursday, EFE reports, according to Agerpres.

“The mercenaries’ origins have changed drastically. Although they were initially Polish, Baltic, British and American, now probably more than 40% of those at the forefront come from Latin American countries,” said Rodion Miroshnik, Russia’s ambassador-at-large at the Foreign Ministry.

According to Miroshnik, quoted by TASS, more than 16,000 “volunteers” are now fighting in Ukrainian ranks.

“These volunteers are foreign mercenaries because they are not there to fight for Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty, but to earn money or gain military experience,” he said.

Rodion Miroshnik added that the current figure was 16,000 people, but between 30,000 and 40,000 people “have passed through their ranks”.

A few weeks ago, the Colombian government asked Russia and Ukraine to stop recruiting its citizens for the war and called for their return.

source – AGERPRES