MOSCOW, October 8. /TASS/. A temporary deployment point of Colombian mercenaries from the 23rd Separate Assault Regiment of Ukraine’s National Guard has been destroyed near the city of Kharkov, a Russian security official told TASS.

"A major temporary deployment point of Colombian mercenaries from the 23rd Separate Assault Regiment of Ukraine’s National Guard, who were earlier transferred from Kiev, has been destroyed in Dergachi, Kharkov Region," he said.

According to Russian security agencies, the total number of foreign mercenaries in the Ukrainian armed forces currently stands at about 16,500, including 7,000 Colombians.