Russian authorities have detained two Colombian men suspected of fighting for the Ukrainian military, adding a shocking twist to the case of their disappearance since mid-July. The men, Jose Aron Medina and Alexander Ante, were accused by the Russian Federal Security Service of participating in hostilities on the side of Ukraine against the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation as mercenaries.
The men were found with documents confirming their illegal activities and clothing bearing the insignia of the Ukrainian Carpathian Sich battalion. They were reportedly detained in Venezuela and extradited to Russia, where they are being held until October 22.
Their detention highlights the strong economic and military ties between Russia and Venezuela. It also serves as a warning to foreign fighters who have joined the war effort in Ukraine.
Ukraine's International Legion declined to provide information about the men, stating that the situation sounded unlikely. Medina's wife, Cielo Imbachí, expressed her distress over the lack of communication and understanding of the reasons behind the men's deportation.
The Colombian government is awaiting official reports to determine how best to assist the detained men. Imbachí, who has a daughter with Medina, last heard from her husband on July 18 when he was in Caracas on his way back to Colombia from Ukraine.
The men's journey through Venezuela remains unclear, as there are direct flight options between Spain and Colombia. Imbachí speculated that the route through Venezuela was chosen for cost reasons.
A missing-person flyer indicated that the men were last seen at a Venezuelan airport on July 18 wearing Ukrainian Army camouflage. Efforts are being made to contact Ante's family for further information.
Venezuela's closer ties with Russia in recent years, including bilateral agreements and an extradition treaty, have raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the detention of the Colombian men.
