Colombian cartels send recruits to Ukraine to master killer drones
Criminal and guerrilla groups are trying to place fighters on Ukraine’s front lines to learn advanced drone warfare before returning home; after 264 attacks and 15 soldiers killed, Bogotá is investing $1.6 billion in a counter-drone shield
Colombian criminal organizations and guerrilla groups are attempting to recruit soldiers fighting in Ukraine to gain expertise in drone warfare, according to a Financial Times report. The Colombian Defense Ministry has reported 264 drone attacks by illegal armed groups, primarily by the National Liberation Army (ELN) and disaffected factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), in 2024 and 2025.
Most of these attacks targeted soldiers, military posts, and installations. Colombian aid workers have expressed concern over the professional skills these former paramilitaries, guerrillas, and soldiers are acquiring. Colombia's military has neutralized 96% of attempted drone attacks, but armed groups are seeking to learn from the Ukraine war to bypass these defenses.
Colombian defense minister Pedro Sánchez described the rise of drone warfare as a "significant challenge to air superiority on the battlefield." The Colombian government has proposed a $1.6 billion "counter-drone shield" to combat this escalating threat, including frequency-jamming equipment and detection systems.
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