16,000 Foreign Volunteers Fight for Ukraine, 40% from Latin America

Around 16,000 foreign volunteers are currently serving in the Ukrainian Defense Forces, fighting alongside Ukrainian troops.

Olha Reshetylova, Ukraine’s Military Ombudsman, announced the figure during a meeting of the heads of Ukraine’s diplomatic missions abroad.

She noted that the volunteers come from at least 72 countries, with nearly 40% of them originating from Latin American countries.

Since the Office of the Military Ombudsman launched operations on January 27, it has received more than 300 complaints from foreign service members, their family members, and authorized representatives.

A dedicated working group within the Ombudsman’s Office reviews issues affecting foreign volunteers at every stage of their military service and responds to violations related to pay and material support, medical care, and the granting of combat veteran status.

In April, the Colombian government signed a decree increasing military pay, a move that could affect the number of volunteers considering service in Ukraine.

Although inflation stood at 5.1% in 2025, the government approved a 7% pay raise for officers and non-commissioned officers serving in the country’s security forces.