War in Ukraine: former South American soldiers fighting on the front

On the northwestern Donbas front, Ukrainian forces manage to prevent the Russian advance. In the Base of the Karpatska Sich battalionestablished in 2014 and now linked to the national army, RFI spoke with the South Americans came to defend Ukraine.

“I came to Ukraine to cooperate because I was looking at some exaggerated things against the Ukrainian people,” explains José Darío, a 43-year-old Colombian who has been in Ukraine for a month.

Seeing so many dead in the news, says the ex-soldier who is now in the Karpatska Sich battalion camp on the north-western Donbas front, he thought “how about putting a grain of sand?”

“We already love Ukraine”

“It breaks the soul to stay away and not be able to do anything. But coming here is not easy. I had to sell all my things and pay for a trip, cross almost five countries to get here. But the motivation is great. One comes and people love him, show him affection, the affection of a foreigner, but here a foreigner looks very good. We already love Ukraine as if it were our country ”, says Darío, also a veterinarian who wants to“ help animals ”.

According to the Colombian, this war is not similar to the situation he experienced in his country of origin.

“IS a terrible situationcompared to Colombia, where you see a hand-to-hand war, you see mortars, but you don’t see so much destruction as we see it here, “he compares.

And he adds: “There are times here when we can’t go out, there are times when we walk and the bombs fall next to us… A lot of technology, the war is very advanced. You feel a lot of adrenaline, a lot of nerves, you can’t say you’re not afraid, because If you have it. But the motivation is stronger ”.

José Darío says his family thinks so he is crazy to enter a war that is not theirs. But he argues that “the person who thinks and believes in humanity thinks war is his own”.

Fighting alongside the Ukrainians “is a bit difficult, but thank God we have colleagues who speak Spanish, and they knew how to guide us, they guided us. They have been with us, defending us tooth and nail because at first we were not very acceptedbecause of the language, but they collaborated a lot and we are already a great brotherhood “, specifies the Colombian who intends to stay a year, if he is still “alive”.

“I saw the things that happened”

To one of the South Americans he says “Peru”. She is 30 years old and has been in Ukraine for almost three months.

Even his family, who learned his true fate after his departure, thinks he is crazy.

But “I was also in the military, I have experience. What’s more here are the missiles, which destroy cities, and since I know how to use heavy vehicles, maybe I can help in all possible ways, the reconstruction, the throwing of rubble, all those things… ”, he says.

Like his partner, I am images of dead civilians and children who have decided to leave.

“I saw the things that happened, what Russia did with the people. Images of dead children arrive, without weapons, as if they arrive and not only kill soldiers, but they see a child and shoot him. And with all these things you see, I thought I could help you a little. I spent a lot to get here from Peru, it was very expensive. I have left many things and I came with what I had“, invoice.

“Peru” explains it they end up getting used to the sound of missiles and mortars: “We already know when the missile has fallen close or fallen far away, sometimes you have to hide, the bombings start ringing very close, and everyone to the bunker“.

“I know they won’t let me down”

Although there are now about twenty Hispanics who have managed to integrate, it was more complicated at first because the legion rejected them due to the language issue. To help them, some Ukrainians act as translators.

“It’s difficult, they were rejected by the legion. They are all professionals, in the army, they are all warriors and they know what to do. I have tried to receive as many people as possible because there are many people who want to come and help, that’s why we are here, they left us responsible. My brother and I take orders and help them with everything we can, ”says a Ukrainian who It comes from Patagonia Argentina.

“Here we welcome them with a big hug and I know they will not disappoint me as well as I will not disappoint them. So we are working and thank God it is a very nice group. we have seven, eight countries and we are all well united, “he adds, although he stresses,” what we need is more translators“.

Sébastien Nemeth and Jad El Khoury, special envoys of RFI, in Donbas

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