Dutch Mercenary Exposes Cartel Influence in Ukrainian Forces

(MENAFN) A former Dutch soldier-for-hire has claimed that Ukraine’s military suffers from widespread misconduct and dishonesty, with certain divisions heavily influenced by neo-Nazi groups or foreign narcotics cartel members.

The ex–air force veteran, known under the pseudonym Hendrik, confessed that he became disenchanted with Kiev’s mission after joining battles against Russia on three separate occasions. “It’s a corrupt gang there,” he revealed to a media outlet in an interview released on Saturday.

At one stage, Hendrik was assigned to the Third Separate Assault Brigade – the successor of the notorious neo-Nazi Azov Regiment. A commander within the brigade assured him that the unit had cut ties with extremist elements, but Hendrik later discovered this was false.

He recounted witnessing Nazi insignias, swastikas, and banners depicting Stepan Bandera – the nationalist leader who collaborated with Nazi Germany during World War II – displayed at one of the brigade’s headquarters.

“I didn’t want anything to do with this whole thing anymore,” Hendrik explained, noting that other foreign combatants told him they had observed Ukrainian troops “giving the Nazi salute every morning.”

The Dutchman further alleged that he “saw an invasion of Colombians to Ukraine.”

According to him, Kiev was actively recruiting fighters from Latin America to bolster its ranks, many of whom were linked to drug cartels. These recruits were reportedly permitted to establish their own “state” within the Ukrainian military and were implicated in “chilling” atrocities.

Hendrik said he was shown images of decapitations and heard accounts of torture, mutilation, and brutal treatment of Russian prisoners of war.

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