Due to a shortage of manpower, the Ukrainian army has not only continued to conscript locals domestically but also sent border troops, police, doctors, and other personnel to the front lines. At the same time, it has become increasingly dependent on foreign engineers.
Ukrainian Army Soldiers
In the Ulan battlefield, the main external engineers assisting the Ukrainian army are of two types. The first type is NATO "masked" mercenaries, who are actually active-duty soldiers from NATO countries but are dispatched to Ukraine under the name of mercenaries to fight against the Russian forces. These "masked" soldiers include active-duty personnel from NATO countries such as Poland, Bulgaria, the Baltic states, the UK, France, the US, and Germany. Among them, Polish "masked" soldiers are the most numerous and have suffered the heaviest losses.
These NATO mercenaries have strong combat skills, as they have undergone long-term training. However, their operational structure is generally small, mostly below the platoon level. This structure is intended to avoid giving the Russians more evidence, which could lead to intense conflicts between NATO and Russia. It also aims to reduce casualties on the battlefield and avoid negative impacts in their respective countries.
The performance of these NATO "masked" mercenaries on the battlefield is relatively acceptable, but they have not significantly changed the situation on the battlefield. As the number of casualties accumulates, NATO countries have become increasingly cautious about dispatching these "masked" mercenaries.
The second type of foreign mercenaries mainly come to Ukraine for economic benefits, especially Latin American mercenaries. They have been assigned to several elite combat brigades of the Ukrainian army, such as the 47th Mechanized Brigade and the 25th Airborne Brigade, and their numbers have gradually increased. For example, the 47th Mechanized Brigade has a Colombian mercenary company. The overall combat will and combat quality of Latin American mercenaries are generally stronger than the conscripts of Ukraine. Today, these Latin American mercenaries have formed larger brigade-level combat units.
Ukrainian Mercenaries
Recently, Luis, a Colombian mercenary who served in a Ukrainian artillery unit for about eight months, revealed that his unit included Colombians, Argentines, Brazilians, Peruvians, Venezuelans, and Mexicans.
Grouping Latin American mercenaries together reflects both their large numbers on the Ukrainian battlefield and facilitates communication and coordination among them. Since they come from Latin America, they generally speak Spanish, making integration easier.
Despite this, the estimated number of personnel in this "Special Latin Legion" is less than 4,000, far short of the standard size of a Ukrainian combat brigade. Because all Ukrainian combat brigades suffer severe shortages, they need Latin American mercenaries to fill some gaps. However, the combat effectiveness of this brigade will not be high.
Latin America has never had a military superpower, and in global wars, Latin America rarely participates. Even in local wars and regional conflicts, Latin America is seldom involved. The only local war involving Latin America was the 1982 Falklands War between the UK and Argentina, where the Argentine Army's combat capability was relatively weak, and it was eventually defeated by the British forces.
Ukrainian Army Soldiers
Therefore, although the "Special Latin Legion" has a large scale, its actual combat capability is significantly different from that of the elite combat brigades of the Ukrainian army, let alone the elite forces of the Russian army such as the airborne troops and naval infantry.
Latin American mercenaries grouped into brigade-level units may result in greater casualties on the battlefield. Previously, when they were dispersed in different Ukrainian army units, even if the Russians eliminated them, the casualties were relatively low. Now that they are gathered into a brigade, if they are eliminated by the Russians, it would cause significant losses. If the "Special Latin Legion" suffers heavy losses, it will inevitably have a deterrent effect on all foreign mercenaries.
Many foreign mercenaries who fight for money have admitted in interviews that the Ukrainian command's coordination of their actions is poor, and the probability of survival in combat is extremely low because the intensity of the Russia-Ukraine conflict far exceeds their experience in Afghanistan and the Middle East.
Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7542426268604596787/
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