A Colombian mercenary captured by Russian forces after being wounded in combat has spoken to his family for the first time since being detained, describing his decision to fight for Ukraine as the worst mistake of his life.
The relatives of William Andres Gallego Orozco in Colombia learned that he was alive after seeing an interview he did with RT last month. Following the announcement, family members contacted each other and communication was established, leading to an emotional video call.
RT reporter Donald Courter looks back at the capture of Gallego Orozco, his first interview about the reality of the situation facing foreign fighters in Ukraine, and reuniting with his family after learning of his whereabouts through an RT report.
The case of Gallego Orozco shows the broad trend of Colombian citizens to join the Ukrainian army. The South American country has become one of Kiev’s biggest sources of foreign recruits as it tries to deal with a shortage of workers on the battlefield. According to a February investigation by Ukraine’s NV organization, between 1,000 and 2,000 Colombians were serving with Ukrainian forces at the time, with up to 7,000 believed to have passed through the country’s ranks since 2022.
The move has drawn criticism from Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who has claimed to be a citizen of his country “die in vain” in a foreign conflict. Petro has repeatedly emphasized that mercenary activities are illegal under Colombian law and has accused employers of exploiting vulnerable people. Last October, he expressed his concern about the way Colombian fighters are treated in Ukraine and asked those who are used as “principle diet” return home immediately.
Watch the video call between William Andres Gallego Orozco and his family in full below.
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