Brazilians recruited by Ukraine suffer torture, imprisonment and death

Attracted by misleading advertisements, Brazilians who enlisted in the Ukrainian armed forces to fight against Russia were exposed to a reality of abuse, torture and deaths. Most fighters from Brazil crossed the ocean in search of high salaries, but Volodymyr Zelensky’s government did not fulfill even that promise.

According to Itamaraty, at least 16 Brazilians have died and another 41 have been missing since the start of the conflict with Russia. Everyone fought on the Ukrainian side. The number could increase in the coming days, as a report sent by Ukrainian authorities to the Brazilian government points to 22 dead and 44 missing.

The conflict, which is approaching its fifth year, is marked by the intensive use of long-range artillery, missiles and swarms of drones, a modality that has increased lethality even far from direct confrontation.

In this scenario, foreign fighters also remain vulnerable to constant indirect attacks.

The numbers, updated by Itamaraty, reveal the increase in casualties among Brazilian citizens at the front and rekindle the consular warning issued by the federal government against nationals going to war zones.

The announcement comes after a report aired on Sunday (9) by Fantastic reveal reports from Brazilian ex-combatants who claim to have been attracted by salary promises that did not materialize.

One of them said that the payment advertised as “R$50,000 per month” corresponded, in practice, to 50,000 hryvnia — around R$5,800.

Also according to testimonies shown on TV Globo, Brazilians without military experience reported difficulties leaving the front after enlistment.

“Whoever tries to escape, if caught, is arrested and tortured,” said a former combatant, describing episodes of internal violence in the units in which he served.

Another former combatant reported having lost 28 kilos during the period he spent at the front and said he had faced days without adequate food. “I never served in the Army. I had no experience. Everything I know today about guerrilla warfare, I learned in Ukraine,” he said.

Contacted by TV Globo, the Ukrainian embassy in Brazil reported that it does not recruit Brazilians and that foreigners who enlist assume the same rights and duties as a Ukrainian citizen in military service.

In a previous note, Itamaraty had already advised against the participation of Brazilians in armed conflicts abroad and warned that consular assistance may be limited in light of contracts signed with foreign forces.

Report published this Tuesday (11) by UOL adds new reports to the reporting table. Brazilians who left training bases in Kiev say they had their passports withheld, salaries delayed for months and contracts signed only after weeks of staying in the country.

According to the statements, cell phones were seized and movement outside the units depended on authorization from superiors.

The interviewees claim to have been recruited by a Brazilian company that would intermediate the sending of fighters to the Eastern European country. The promised payment varied depending on the area of ​​activity — from 45 thousand to 120 thousand hryvnia per month — but, according to reports, there were delays and a lack of contractual clarity. One of the Brazilians said that he remained without payment for two and a half months, during which time he depended on resources taken from Brazil.

Torture practices were also common. “There were times when we were woken up with a kick and guns pointed at our heads,” said one of the interviewees. The group also claims to have witnessed episodes of beatings, degrading treatment and withholding of documents. Some of the Brazilians left the facilities and are awaiting payment to be able to return to the country, while seeking support for accommodation and food in Kiev.