Im Krisenmodus

Anmerkungen

This episode was made with the help of AI.

Thousands of Colombians are now fighting in the ranks of the Ukrainian armed forces. Many previously served as soldiers or police officers and are hoping for significantly higher pay than they could earn back home. Others speak of solidarity with Ukraine or the desire to serve as soldiers again.

FUNKE war correspondent Jan Jessen meets four Colombians on the front line in the Dnipro region. They explain why they came, how they experience drone warfare, and why reality turned out to be even more extreme than they expected.

A representative of the 31st Mechanized Brigade's battalion also explains why the Colombians have become important soldiers in his unit—and why nationality often no longer matters on the battlefield.

In this episode:

Jan Jessen – Political Editor at NRZ and war and crisis correspondent for the FUNKE Media Group

Four Colombian soldiers from the 31st Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Army

(names changed / call signs used: Sombras, Logotor, Coco, and Dominic)

Battalion representative of the 31st Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Army

🧭 Chapters

1 | Why are Colombians fighting for Ukraine?

Jan Jessen meets four Colombian soldiers in a forest near Dnipro. They explain why they traveled almost 10,000 kilometers to fight for Ukraine.

2 | Between conviction and pay

The men talk about justice, money, and their military backgrounds. Jan explains why Colombians have become one of the largest groups of foreign fighters in Ukraine.

3 | "It was worse than we expected"

The soldiers talk about modern drone warfare, injuries, and how the reality at the front differs from what they imagined.

4 | Foreigners in their own brigade

A Ukrainian battalion representative explains what role the Colombians play in his unit, how cooperation works, and why language barriers often become secondary during combat operations.

5 | When Colombians face Colombians

Russia is also recruiting fighters from Colombia. The soldiers explain why origin no longer matters on the battlefield.

6 | The winter stays with you

At the end, the men talk about the cold, fear, and the physical demands of war—and about why this deployment has affected them more deeply than they ever imagined.

🎧 Recommended listening

Cuba in the grip of crisis: Oil runs out, deals begin—and what Washington wants

Sent into hell – Why young Ukrainians volunteer

Alcatraz – How former inmates become soldiers in Ukraine

Note: This episode also discusses suicide and psychological trauma related to war.

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts yourself or are worried about someone else, help is available through the German telephone counseling service:

Suicide Prevention – TelefonSeelsorge Germany

Free and available around the clock:

0800 111 0 111 / 0800 111 0 222 or 116 123

📬 Contact & Feedback

Questions, criticism, or suggestions? Write to us:

✉️ krisenmodus@funkemedien.de

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📅 New episodes

Every two weeks, always on Wednesdays.

Thanks to Thomas Bertram for his voice.

Im Krisenmodus is a podcast by the FUNKE Media Group