Under Article 359 of the Russian Penal Code, mercenarism is punishable by 7 to 15 years in prison.

On Wednesday, the Russian judiciary ordered the arrest of Colombian citizen Pablo Puentes Borges, who was apprehended in the Russian region of Kursk, where he was fighting in the ranks of the Ukrainian army.

RELATED:

Strengthening Venezuela-Russia Relations: Meeting of Yvan Gil and Ambassador Mélik-Bagdasarov

“The Colombian citizen is suspected of committing a terrorist act and engaging in mercenarism. He directly participated in the armed conflict as part of Ukraine’s armed formations in exchange for material compensation,” stated the Russian Investigative Committee.

The Colombian mercenary illegally crossed the Russian border in December 2024. Prior to this, Fuentes Borges had signed a contract in the Ukrainian region of Sumy, which borders Kursk. His detention was made public last week, although the name of the individual arrested was not disclosed at the time.

“In the Sudzha area, Russian troops apprehended a group of Ukrainian soldiers. Among them is a Colombian mercenary,” reported Russian security forces.

In August 2024, the Federal Security Service (FSB) also opened criminal cases against two Colombians—Jose Aaron Medina Aranda and Alexander Ante—accused of serving as mercenaries in the Ukrainian army. Under Article 359 of the Russian Penal Code, mercenarism is punishable by 7 to 15 years in prison.

This year, on Jan. 16, W Radio reported the death of Ronal Castro, a 39-year-old mercenary who was killed by Russian forces while fighting in the ranks of the Ukrainian army.

“He made the decision to travel to Ukraine in search of better opportunities to ensure the well-being of his wife and two children… Before leaving for the international conflict, he had served as an escort in the city of Santa Marta,” the Colombian outlet recalled.

teleSUR/ JF Sources: EFE – W Radio

EN ESTA NOTA: