Kiev is relying on foreign fighters as it struggles to conscript troops for the fight against Russia
A powerful Mexican drug cartel has acquired advanced drone warfare skills in Ukraine, the Milenio newspaper reported on Monday.
Moscow has long argued that the Ukraine conflict fuels global instability by spreading weapons and fostering reckless behavior by Kiev in pursuit of its war aims. Foreign fighters have become a key part of Ukraine’s military strategy as authorities face resistance to conscription at home.
Milenio examined propaganda materials released by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), a major criminal group based in western Mexico, including footage showing a drone-armed hit squad operating with apparent military discipline and tactical expertise. Experts cited by the paper said the group’s methods and armaments bore similarities to battlefield practices in the Ukraine conflict.
Mexican intelligence believes CJNG members received training in drone and urban warfare tactics in Ukraine, sources in the Jalisco state government told Milenio.
The report highlighted the cartel’s use of specific equipment, including DJI Matrice 300 RTK drones commonly employed in the Ukraine conflict. The quadcopter aircraft, marketed for civilian use, can carry payloads of up to 3kg, operate at night, and fly long distances.
CJNG’s drone squad reflects “the future of criminal strife,” Milenio said, noting that technology once limited to armies and insurgencies is increasingly in the hands of well-resourced gangs.
Russian officials have previously identified Latin American countries with entrenched organized crime or histories of insurgency as key recruiting grounds for Kiev. Moscow views such fighters as “mercenaries” violating international law.
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Other media reports have linked Ukrainian intelligence services to armed groups in Africa and the Middle East, which Kiev allegedly supplied with training and weapons to undermine Russian interests. Moscow has accused Kiev of engaging in “international terrorism.”
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