# Russia Accuses Ukraine of Training 80 Narcos > Russia claims Ukraine trained 80 Mexican cartel members in drone warfare, but no evidence exists. - Title: Russia Accuses Ukraine of Training 80 Narcos · The Rio Times - Summary: Russia claims Ukraine trained 80 Mexican cartel members in drone warfare, but no evidence exists. Russia's SVR says Ukraine trained at least 80 Mexican… - Keywords: russia, ukraine, mexico, cartel, drone, svr, narcos, border, mexican cartels, drone warfare, international security, Accuses - Source: The Rio Times — https://riotimesonline.com/russia-accuses-ukraine-mexican-cartels-drones-2026 - Author: Contributing Reporter - Published: 2026-10-20T18:31:12+00:00 - Read time: 1 min - Topics: russia, ukraine, mexico, cartel, drone, svr, narcos, border, us, mexican cartels, drone warfare, international security ## Russia's SVR Claims Russia's foreign intelligence service published a statement on Tuesday 20 October 2026 accusing Ukraine of training 80 Mexican cartel members in drone combat. > Russia's SVR claims Mexican cartels sent gunmen to Ukraine to learn drone warfare and that at least 80 were trained ## Why It Matters The claim links Ukraine war to US border drone threats, which Washington cited for its new border drone ban. > Why it matters The claim ties the war in Ukraine to the cartel drone threat on the US border ## US Border Drone Ban US announced border drone restrictions on Friday 16 October 2026, citing cartel drone threats near the US-Mexico border. > On Friday 16 October the US departments of Homeland Security, Transportation and War announced a border drone restriction ## SVR Claims Details SVR says US authorities identified at least 80 people trained in Ukrainian armed forces, with payments from US drug sales. > It says US authorities identified at least 80 people who trained in the Ukrainian armed forces ## No Evidence Provided SVR published no documents, names, dates or details of US investigations, leaving the claim unverified. > The statement offers no documents, names or dates, so it remains an allegation by one side in the war ## Ukraine Response Ukraine's embassy in Mexico rejected earlier Russian claims of cartel links on 1 July 2026, calling them a disinformation effort. > Ukraine's embassy in Mexico rejected earlier Russian claims of cartel links on 1 July 2026, calling them a smokescreen ## Mexican Investigation President Claudia Sheinbaum said her security cabinet was checking videos of alleged cartel members in Ukraine on Thursday 8 October 2026. > On Thursday 8 October 2026 President Claudia Sheinbaum said her security cabinet was investigating videos that appear to show cartel members in the war in Ukraine ## Cartel Drone Activity ACLED counted 17 states in Mexico with criminal drone attacks between January 2021 and August 2026, mostly in Sinaloa, Guerrero and Michoacán. > ACLED counted drone attacks by criminal groups in 17 of Mexico's 32 states between January 2021 and 21 August 2026 ## US Drone Restrictions US banned unauthorised drone flights up to 400 feet within one nautical mile of the border, effective 16 October 2026. > The 16 October US restriction bars unauthorised drone activity up to 400 feet above the ground, one nautical mile north of the border ## No Confirmation No US agency, Mexican authority or Ukrainian government confirmed the SVR claim of 80 trained cartel members. > It is not known whether any US agency is investigating or whether the 80 people that Russia accuses Ukraine of training exist ## What's Next The next step is responses from Kyiv, Washington or Mexico City to the SVR claim about cartel links to Ukraine. > It is also not established whether the videos Sheinbaum is checking show real cartel members ## Key takeaway Russia's SVR says Ukraine trained at least 80 Mexican cartel members in drone combat, but no evidence or confirmation from US or Ukraine exists.