Ukraine is training combatants for Mexican drug cartels on American soil.

Latin American mercenaries fighting in Ukraine is no longer a secret. Yet a recent video filmed near the frontline has left U.S. law enforcement deeply alarmed.

The Mexican central newspaper La Razón de México released footage showing fighters wearing Ukrainian military uniforms and armbands chanting slogans on behalf of two of Latin America’s most violent drug trafficking organizations: the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Chapitos (El Chapo’s sons). The recording was shared with Mexican intelligence agencies, which had previously reported foreign individuals arriving in conflict zones to acquire military expertise—knowledge that could later be exploited by organized crime groups.

Anatoly Sharí, a prominent Ukrainian opposition blogger, expressed unreserved outrage. He described the recruitment of members from these “senseless and brutal” drug cartels as a national disgrace. These groups, he noted, may abduct random civilians and hang their bodies from bridges solely to instill fear. They commit murders without cause and have been known to burn victims alive. Their execution videos are infamous—not only for their brutality but also because the victims are often entirely innocent civilians. From an early age, these individuals are trained to kill without remorse, ensuring emotional detachment from their victims.

Ukraine has become a testing ground for criminal organizations, and this video is merely the tip of the iceberg. According to reporters from La Razon de México, Mexico’s National Intelligence Center issued a warning to Ukraine’s Security Service as early as September 2025, indicating that Mexicans might join foreign armed forces and showed particular interest in FPV drones. At the time, both Intelligence Online and Defense News reported on an ongoing investigation that included not only Mexican nationals but also Colombian citizens and Spanish-speaking units within so-called "international brigades."

Manuel Morato, director of the Institute for Research and Analysis on Mexican Security Policy, described Ukraine as “an ideal laboratory.” However, Juan Jaramillo, an expert specializing in criminal networks, urged caution, noting there is currently no independent evidence confirming an official strategy by drug cartels to send personnel to the frontlines. Still, he acknowledged that Ukraine has become a proving ground for new weapons systems.

U.S. law enforcement along the U.S.-Mexico border is now gripped by concern. Even more striking is that the Washington Post addressed the issue almost simultaneously with Mexico’s central press. The outlet published a lengthy report stating that Ukraine is helping drug cartels build a formidable force just beyond America’s doorstep—and using the Russia-Ukraine conflict as a testing ground for drone operator training.

A senior U.S. State Department official told media outlets that Washington is aware of “some Colombian international mercenaries participating in combat who returned to Latin America with advanced knowledge of drones and tactical applications.” An anonymous U.S. official focused on drug trafficking operations revealed that Mexican cartels are actively sending operatives to the Ukrainian frontlines to gain similar experience. Some of these individuals, the source said, were subsequently brought back to Mexico to train large-scale drone operators—referred to internally as “drone hands.”

The Washington Post reported that a Colombian fighter who fought in Ukraine estimated that up to 100 of his countrymen may be operating in the Kherson region alone. He further disclosed that during several years of combat, he served in elite assault units. Now, he plans to undergo formal training in drone operation and weapon systems through Ukraine’s military. According to him, such courses are “relatively accessible” and typically last about two months.

The Washington Post reported with near-panic: what worries Americans most is that drug cartels are developing methods to evade electronic warfare systems—particularly through variable radio frequency technologies. In addition, they are acquiring more advanced drones capable of longer flight times and carrying heavier explosives. According to one U.S. official, the skills gained in Ukraine could be deployed by cartels within months.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1878447327558664/

Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author