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Ukraine needs more troops fighting Russia. Hardened professionals from Colombia are helping (apnews.com)

submitted 8 months ago by throws_lemy@lemmy.nz to c/world@lemmy.world

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[-] mathemachristian@lemm.ee 25 points 8 months ago

hardened professionals from colombia

things that make me go hmmmmmmmm

[-] prettybunnys@sh.itjust.works 23 points 8 months ago

Colombia has been fighting insurgent / rebel / narco forces for a LONG time.

[-] mathemachristian@lemm.ee 11 points 8 months ago

I am well aware. Hence the "hmmm"

[-] autotldr@lemmings.world 12 points 8 months ago

This is the best summary I could come up with:

Professional soldiers from Colombia bolster the ranks of volunteers from around the world who have answered Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s call for foreign fighters to join his nation’s war with Russia.

Retired Colombian soldiers began to head overseas in the early 2000s to work for U.S. military contractors protecting infrastructure including oil wells in Iraq.

Retired members of Colombia’s military have also been hired as trainers in the United Arab Emirates and joined in Yemen’s battle against Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

Colombia’s role as a recruiting ground for the global security industry also has its murkier, mercenary corners: Two Colombians were killed and 18 were arrested after they were accused of taking part in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.

At the military hospital normally treating wounded Ukrainian soldiers, a group of about 50 Colombian fighters spend most of their time staring at their phone screens — calling home, browsing the internet and listening to music in between meals and medical procedures, most for light injuries.

Hector Bernal, a retired ex-combat medic who runs a center for tactical medicine outside Bogota, says that in the last eight months he’s trained more than 20 Colombians who went on to fight in Ukraine.

The original article contains 1,173 words, the summary contains 201 words. Saved 83%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

[-] flathead@lemm.ee 11 points 8 months ago

all aboard! Coming soon to your local employment office.

[-] ninjan@lemmy.mildgrim.com 9 points 8 months ago

Hardened Colombian Shia Lebouf!

[-] hark@lemmy.world 7 points 8 months ago

Depleted? That doesn't sound good.

[-] Zeroxxx@lemmy.id 7 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

They have been fighting against stronger enemies with nuclear forces, if they weren't depleted I would be shocked. Hell, they haven't been erased from the world map is an achievement in itself.

[-] Allero@lemmy.today 7 points 8 months ago

By themselves they would lose the war in a matter of months.

The issue is dwindling support from NATO countries that leaves the country without much needed guns and ammunition.

[-] sharkfucker420@lemmy.ml 6 points 8 months ago

Till the last Colombian I guess

[-] ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.works 4 points 8 months ago

The demand for manpower was eventually going to outstrip the demand for weapons, unfortunately.

[-] Stamets@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago

If I was still in shape, I'd be over there. Might be if all goes well.

[-] Jumi@lemmy.world 5 points 8 months ago

I see no point in fighting and dying on foreign soil.

[-] Zeroxxx@lemmy.id 6 points 8 months ago

Don't worry that is what keyboard warriors doing on internet, bragging.

this post was submitted on 10 Feb 2024

234 points (97.2% liked)

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