A court operating under Russian authority in occupied Ukrainian territory has handed down a severe 19-year prison sentence to a Colombian national for fighting alongside the Ukrainian military. This ruling is the latest in a series of prosecutions targeting international volunteers who joined Kyiv's forces.
Details of the Sentencing and Capture
The Supreme Court in the Russian-controlled Donetsk region passed the sentence on Wednesday, 24 December 2025. The convicted man was identified by Russia's Prosecutor General as 42-year-old Oscar Mauricio Blanco Lopez. According to the official statement, Blanco Lopez travelled to Ukraine in May 2024 with the intention of enlisting in the Ukrainian army.
He was subsequently captured by Russian military personnel in December 2025, seven months after his arrival. The court released a video showing the Colombian standing expressionless behind bars as the lengthy prison term was announced.
Russia's Legal Stance on Foreign Fighters
Moscow has consistently prosecuted captured foreign nationals fighting for Ukraine as mercenaries, rather than recognising them as lawful combatants entitled to protections under the Geneva Conventions. This legal classification allows for harsher sentences and denies them prisoner-of-war status.
This case follows a similar pattern seen just last week, when the same court in Donetsk sentenced a British national to 13 years in prison on identical charges. These proceedings are widely criticised by Western nations and international legal observers, who view them as illegitimate trials conducted by an occupying power.
Implications and International Reaction
The sentencing underscores the significant risks faced by foreign volunteers in the Ukraine conflict. It also highlights the ongoing legal and diplomatic battles between Russia and Ukraine, where the treatment of prisoners remains a fiercely contested issue.
These court actions in occupied territories are likely to further complicate potential prisoner exchanges and draw condemnation from global human rights organisations. The continued jailing of foreign fighters signals Russia's firm stance against international involvement supporting Kyiv.
