The Russian Investigative Committee stated that over the past three weeks investigators opened criminal cases against 26 foreigners from 12 countries for taking part in hostilities against the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The briefing framed these actions as part of a broader effort to curb mercenary activity in the conflict and monitor foreign involvement in fighting on Ukrainian soil.
Authorities said evidence shows foreigners serving with Ukrainian armed formations as mercenaries. The inquiry underscores the seriousness with which the state treats foreign participation in the fighting and indicates that the evidence gathering will continue to unfold as more details emerge.
Citizens from the United Kingdom, Colombia, and Argentina are among those identified as responsible, and they have been placed on the authorities’ wanted lists. The development highlights the international dimension of the issue, with individuals across multiple regions cited in connection with the hostilities.
By late January, United States citizens Robert Vardaro and Benjamin Reed were named on an international list of people sought for mercenary activity and participation in the conflict on the Ukrainian side. According to the investigation, Reed fought in the region from February 2022 through May 2024 and later joined the Norman Brigade. Vardaro reportedly joined the international legion during the same period.
Earlier reports indicated that Colombian mercenaries had largely left active service, signaling shifts in the presence of foreign fighters within the broader conflict landscape.