A Colombian mercenary has spoken of his regret at fighting for Ukraine, stating that 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 injuries from shrapnel on the front lines. Russian soldiers provided medical care and evacuated him from combat zones.
In an interview, Orozco revealed he had been promised around $3,200 per month to work as a cook in the Ukrainian military. However, he reported that neither the pay nor the assignment matched what he was told.
Orozco stated that after receiving only 15 days of basic military training, he was 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 Ukraine’s National Guard’s Khartia Brigade.
During combat operations, Orozco witnessed heavy casualties among foreign recruits while Ukrainian military leadership remained detached from the front lines. Orozco now faces significant challenges returning to his homeland, where mercenary activity is illegal.
