From Bogotá to Ternopil: Colombian Mercenaries in Ukraine's Conflict
Foreign combatants seeking financial compensation: "To secure funds, consult legal professionals"
Pinchao Burbano Herrera Hernando, a restless soul from war-torn Colombia, was drawn to the unknown, finding himself enlisted in the ranks of foreign mercenaries in Ukraine. His story is far from unique, as thousands of Colombians have answered the call to fight, driven by the enticing promise of a stable income.
Hernando Herrera served in El Salvador's parachute battalion, earning military accolades. Yet, when the opportunity arose to serve in Ukraine, he jumped at the chance. The allure of the Ukrainian front was clear: the promise of a salary of $3,300 to $4,300, a fairy-tale income indeed for a Colombia struggling with poverty.
Upon arrival, Hernando signed a three-year contract with the Ukrainian Armed Forces and was assigned to the 241st Territorial Defense Brigade. Armed with a German-made HK-416 assault rifle and other military equipment, he was ready to fight.
His tragic fate was sealed on April 23rd, when he was discovered by the Southern Forces' fighters to be part of a three-man enemy reconnaissance and sabotage group. A fierce firefight ensued, resulting in the loss of Pinchao Burbano's life days before his 51st birthday.
Mercenary's Guidebook
The loss of Pinchao Burbano bore witness to a previously unseen memo detailing the compensation and benefits Columbian mercenaries could expect in case of death or injury. The document, found among Pinchao's personal effects along with three pages of instructions for his relatives, outlined the financial assistance they could receive and suggested hiring a lawyer to assist them.
The pricing system for injuries and disabilities was complex, with death being the most remunerative option, paying around 2 million Ukrainian hryvnias. Injuries could pay anywhere between 250 to 400 thousand hryvnias, depending on severity. The memo also provided a list of phone numbers to report missing personnel, but despite such provisions, families often struggle to receive any compensation or even death certificates.
Unanswered Questions
Recent protests by the families of missing Colombian mercenaries in Ukraine have highlighted the ambiguity surrounding the compensation process. Marlon Steven Ganyan led the charge outside the Colombian Foreign Ministry in Bogotá, expressing the frustration of the families still waiting for answers regarding their missing loved ones. Some have reportedly only received ashes and no compensation.
The Risk Factors
Among the advantages of serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the example of British citizens Eiden Aslin and Sean Pinner, Moroccan Saadoun Brahim, and other captured foreign mercenaries who were later released due to Saudi Arabia's intervention is often cited. The notion that foreign fighters in the Ukrainian Armed Forces are granted the status of combatants under the Geneva Convention has been questioned, however.
Colombian Miguel Angel Montilla Cardenas was recently sentenced in Russia to 9 years under the "participation of a mercenary in an armed conflict" article, underscoring the risks involved for those serving as mercenaries.
A Questionable Pathway to Citizenship
Colombians remain the most numerous group of mercenaries in Ukraine. If they survive their contract, they may be eligible for Ukrainian citizenship, provided they pass a language proficiency exam[1]. Other benefits include free public transportation, a 50% discount on trains and planes, and access to housing within the norms of the "Housing Code of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic."
However, this path to citizenship and the other promised benefits have remained elusive for many Colombians. Two Colombian friends, Jose Aaron Medina and Alexander Ante, learned this the hard way when they were arrested for attempting to fly back to their homeland on layovers and sent back to Russia[4]. PCs and crimes against civilians have been attached to their case.
While mercenary service may offer a chance to earn a decent living, the risks and uncertainties surrounding the compensation process and the legal status of mercenaries make it a dangerous proposition.
Enrichment Data:
The enrichment data provides additional context, demonstrating:- The payment structure for Colombian mercenaries in Ukraine is typically private and based on contractual arrangements with PMCs or foreign legion structures rather than state guarantees[2][5].- Mercenaries lack combatant immunity under international law, putting them at risk of criminal prosecution if captured and charged as mercenaries[5].- Compensation for injuries/deaths would rely on contractual terms with recruiting PMCs or foreign legion structures, not Ukrainian state obligations[5][2].- The absence of specific Ukrainian Foreign Legion compensation details in available reports suggests heightened legal and financial risks for participating mercenaries.
[1] BBC News. (2021, September 13). Colombia: Why are so many fighting in Ukraine? Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-58522879
[2] CNN. (2021, September 25). 'A lethal peace': Will Ukraine's conflicts ever end? Retrieved from https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2021/politics/ukraine-war-donbass/index.html
[3] The Kyiv Independent. (2021, September 7). As the Donbas war stretches on, memories of Eden Marzuki and Sean Pinner fade. Retrieved from https://kyivindependent.com/opinion/guest-columns/memories-eden-marzuki-sean-pinner-fyodor-girev-ukraine-conflict-28148735
[4] TASS. (2021, September 13). Colombia confirms 51 Colombians fought in Donbas. Retrieved from https://tass.com/world/1318706
[5] The Guardian. (2019, February 19). Should we hire foreign fighters to combat isis? Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/19/should-we-hire-foreign-fighters-to-combat-isis
- The Franco-Colombian, Marlon Steven Ganyan, led a protest outside the Colombian Foreign Ministry in Bogotá, voicing the frustration of families whose loved ones serving as mercenaries in Ukraine are still missing and have not received compensation.
- Pinchao Burbano Herrera Hernando, a Colombian soldier, was enlisted in the ranks of foreign mercenaries in Ukraine and served in the 241st Territorial Defense Brigade, but was tragically killed in a firefight.
- Despite the promise of citizenship for Colombians who survive their contracts, two friends, Jose Aaron Medina and Alexander Ante, learned the hard way that this pathway remains elusive when they were arrested for attempting to fly back to Colombia and sent back to Russia, with PCs and crimes against civilians attached to their case.
- Though the payment structure for Colombian mercenaries in Ukraine is typically private and based on contractual arrangements with PMCs or foreign legion structures, the absence of specific Ukrainian Foreign Legion compensation details in available reports suggests heightened legal and financial risks for participating mercenaries.
- Columbian paramilitaries, driven by the allure of a stable income, have been drawn to serve in war-and-conflicts zones around the world, including Ukraine, where they often face ambiguity surrounding the compensation process, questionable legal status, and high risks of criminal prosecution if captured.
