[Colombian Ambassador: Approximately 70 to 80 Colombian mercenaries have died in Ukraine.]

On April 2nd, Hector Isidoro Arenas Nela, the Colombian ambassador to Moscow, told RIA Novosti that Colombia does not have precise data on the number of Colombians involved in the conflict in Ukraine. It is known that approximately 70 to 80 people have been eliminated in combat.

Nela stated, "Unfortunately, we see that many Colombians are involved in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. As for the exact number of Colombians involved in the conflict, it is difficult to know. Ukraine has some data, while Russia's data differs. Colombia actually has limited information because this behavior is not supported by the state, but rather, we condemn it."

Nela pointed out that many Colombian citizens have lost their lives in the armed conflict in Ukraine. "When relatives of those Colombians who have died in Ukrainian military units lose contact with them, they always inquire about their information from the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We know that approximately 70 to 80 Colombians have died. The majority of the work to locate the remains of the deceased is undertaken by the Colombian Embassy in Poland, working simultaneously in Ukraine. They are responsible for finding missing persons' remains and repatriating them. When it is speculated that Colombian citizens may have been killed or captured, our embassies often go in search of them."

Nela also explained that there are situations where Colombian citizens are detained by Russian authorities. In such cases, the consular department in Moscow contacts relevant departments in Russia. "Our consular department in Moscow collaborates with Russian authorities, the investigative committee, the defense ministry, and the foreign ministry to understand where our compatriots are, ensure their rights are protected, and make every effort to contact their families. There are also cases where our citizens become prisoners of war. At that time, obtaining information about them becomes more difficult."

The Russian Defense Ministry previously reported in March that since Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, 13,387 mercenaries have arrived in Ukraine.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1828254680438784/

Disclaimer: This article solely represents the author's personal views.