But he knows that Ukraine is where I should be, and plans to stay in the country for the foreseeable future. The Georgians unit officially was integrated into the Ukrainian armed forces in 2016. And though the vast majority of fighters who travel to Ukraine will be well-intentioned, its not clear how many will be particularly helpful on the battlefield given language and training barriers. Kevin walks through what remains of the building, which was ravaged by fire. Despite the sacrifices, Solo said that his motivation for serving in Ukraine has not lessened. And yet, he is sure he made the right decision to come to Ukraine. The International Legion added to Ukraine's 200,000-plus active-duty troops and 900,000 reservistsEurope's second largest military force, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. It should be trained men defending the country.'". US and Canadian army veterans say they feel compelled to join Ukraines newly-established foreign legion . Scores of aspiring fighters have expressed on social media their interest in joining the fight against Russia in Ukraine. WebRussias government has accused Ukraine of hiring mercenaries to supplement its military an allegation the legion denies. Youll hear the Ukrainians call the Russians Orcs. Its because to them, its a symbol of good versus evil, like in Lord of the Rings the light versus the dark, he said. Other groups are not as selective, several military volunteers in Ukraine said. It is recommended, if available, to have military clothing or its elements, equipment, helmet, body armour, etc. Switch to the light mode that's kinder on your eyes at day time. Its not surprising that there have been administrative challenges given the scale of foreigners who have responded to this call, said Austin C. Doctor, director of counterterrorism research initiatives at the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys NCITE Center. But intelligence agents may find other uses for returning volunteers, as well. Free shipping for many products! Biden, Marcos Set to Meet as Tensions Grow With China. They disappeared when their platoon came under heavy fire in a village on June 9, leading all of its members to fall back except for the two of them, according to a statement sent by Mr. Druekes family. Even if their home governments disavow the fighters, countries like Russia are likely to see this as part of a secret (or not-so-secret) way to support Moscows enemies: indeed, Russia has good reason to be suspicious, as it has done the same thing with its volunteers in the past. Wed already seen civilians just outright murdered., Video shows Russian soldiers killing 2 civilians before they ransack a business. Authorities announced a new ceasefire on Wednesday to allow civilians to escape from towns around the capital, Kyiv, as well as the southern cities of Mariupol, Enerhodar and Volnovakha, Izyum in the east and Sumy in the northeast. Ukraine is trying to screen applicants as fast as possible, Ukrainian Maj. Gen. Borys Kremenestkiy, a military attach in Washington, D.C., told Military Times. There have been quite a lot of people who change their minds, though he declined to give numbers. They know which building to go to. The number of foreign fighters now in Ukraine is a state secret, but a spokesperson for the International Legion told CNN that the symbiosis means Ukraines chances of winning are greatly increased., The best of the best join the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel Anton Myronovych told CNN. Get involved in exciting, inspiring conversations. WebThe Georgian Legion was noted as being particularly good at recruiting Americans by Kacper Rekawek, an expert on foreign fighters in Ukraine; [8] before the formation of the International Legion of Ukraine in 2022, most pro-Ukrainian foreign fighters served in the Georgian Legion. Hoekstra's efforts were performed voluntarily. And you can hear the Russian jets flying by. The , was better able to capitalize on Afghans, Pakistanis, and Lebanese Hezbollah members who joined its side in that countrys civil war, making them an important part of the regimes war effort by ensuring they served under Iranian and Syrian control. No ideology or politics, just guys who wouldnt wanna miss out on a just war, Wetherholt said. Two Ukrainian military sources familiar with the onboarding process said that in the days after requirements were tightened, the legions acceptance rate dropped below 50 per cent. Kihk echoed the warnings by some analysts that individuals with radical views might travel to Ukraine to get combat experience that could be used back home, and domestic intelligence agencies should take note. Sign up for exclusive newsletters, comment on stories, enter competitions and attend events. Howard Altman is an award-winning editor and reporter who was previously the military reporter for the Tampa Bay Times and before that the Tampa Tribune, where he covered USCENTCOM, USSOCOM and SOF writ large among many other topics. We have a lot of Americans.. Related: Russia Pummels Ukraine's No. Like Alvis, international military veterans who are accepted into Ukraine's Foreign Legion sign a contract guaranteeing them a salary frequently cited by Some legionnaires have walked away, Magrou says. And then it was. The website fightforua.org was launched, containing all the necessary information for citizens of foreign countries who want to join the International Defense Legion of Ukraine.. After Russia launched a large-scale military invasion of Ukraine on February 24 and began striking at civilians and infrastructure from day one, the Ukrainian More importantly, Finkelstein noted that, in the event of a volunteer's capture by the Russians, "they will be unlikely to be treated with full POW status" under the Geneva Conventions. Even in the best case scenario they might get gear theyve never used before. In addition, the conflict zone may lead idealistic foreigners to become indoctrinated with more radical ideologies: they go to oppose one foe, but in the war zone they mix with other radicals and come away more radical and more networked. Mr. Magrou, a corporal in the legions structure, said volunteers now accepted by his organization had to pass background and psychological checks and were required to have combat experience, no records of dishonorable behavior and no membership in extremist groups. WebWestern mercenaries offered $2,000 a day to fight Putin The job is not without risk but, at almost $60,000 a month, the pay is good. I'm here until the victory.". "We'd be instructing from morning until around 5 p.m., and then I would stay up half the night preparing lesson plans," he said. Many foreign volunteers no doubt want to get to the fight fast, and the Ukrainian army might not offer the quickest way to do this., Then again, I have already seen photos of Swedish volunteers in Ukrainian gear, so the process seems to be quick.. Russia has maintained that some of foreign fighters it has captured are mercenaries. The wave of interest comes after social media posts from Ukrainian government offices, like embassies, began to offer any "foreigners willing to defend Ukraine" the opportunity to join an "International Legion of Territorial Defense.". "If I weren't here, a lot of good people would have died.". Theres also good reason to be skeptical about any volunteers plans that involve fighting for independent groups outside official Ukrainian channels. Step 1. This said, military intelligence might also be interested to learn as much about the situation in Ukraine and Russian tactics as possible, Kihk said. After taking up arms to defend Kyiv itself from direct Russian assault in the early days of the invasion, Alvis joined a battalion that put him to work as a translator and instructor. "We're defenders, not aggressors, and that's why we'll win. protection if they are openly carrying arms while fighting. Russia has dispatched mercenaries from the Kremlin-backed Wagner group and Chechen special forces to assassinate the Ukrainian President, according to reports. They have social media, news, he says. Ukraine is trying to screen applicants as fast as possible, Ukrainian Maj. Gen. Borys Kremenestkiy, a military attach in Washington, D.C., told Military Times. Although he recently returned to Michigan to pursue his full-time career, he says he would willingly travel back to Ukraine to continue the work if it were financially possible for him to do so. Integrating foreign volunteers will be a challenge if the 16,000 number claimed by Ukraine is accurate, according to Ilmari Kihk, a Finnish military veteran and an associate professor at the Swedish Defence University in Stockholm, who has researched the volunteer phenomenon in Ukraine. Mamulashvilis forces have unique insight into integrating foreign fighters that the burgeoning International Legion lacks. That is a clear indication that the person is not here for the right reasons, Magrou says. As Ukraine forms a new legion of foreign fighters to help defend the Eastern European country against the Russian invasion, some Americans have questions about signing on. Communism has turned into fascism, he said on Thursday. By March 6, they had received more than 20,000 applications, according to the foreign minister. Adverts have seemingly appeared online in the UK, Europe and the US, asking for experienced soldiers to join the fight as the Russian invasion rages on. For Ukraine, establishing firm command and control of any foreign fighters is necessary something the government did after the 2014 influx but which will be harder as Russian attacks made centralized control over forces more difficult. The "Lgion trangre," or French Foreign Legion, is perhaps the world's most famous and infamous foreign legion. I dont have a big staff to work with and we have other areas, like working with the Pentagon on security assistance, he said. According to Major-General Igor Konashenkov, spokesman for the defence ministry, approximately 200 Croatians have joined to fight in the international brigade. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky). This article may not be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. We are not using Kevins full name because of the nature of his work in Ukraine. Most of those interviewed by Military.com claim to be U.S. veterans, some saying they are en route to Poland or packing their bags, though none of their stories could be verified. Like Alvis, international military veterans who are accepted into Ukraine's Foreign Legion sign a contract guaranteeing them a salary frequently cited by foreigners as being approximately $3,000 per month. There are likely going to be some [volunteers] who are doing this for more malevolent purposes, especially if the conflict that weve seen in the Donbas region is any indicator, particularly as it relates to receiving training or connecting with persons affiliated with Nazi or white supremacist organizations on the ground, Doctor said. Few will speak Ukrainian, and if they are put in a separate unit they may speak dozens of languages or otherwise have difficulty communicating with one another. But absorbing the 16,000 foreigners the number that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claims have volunteered will be a challenge. oreign mercenaries are being offered $2,000 (1,512) a day to fight against Russian troops as part of the new foreign legion, according to reports. The International Legion even got its own website, instructing would-be foreign recruits on everything from how to contact the Ukrainian embassy to what to pack. The government pays him and his colleagues a modest salary of between $2,000 and $3,000 a month, though Kevin says they have spent far more than that buying equipment. Hoekstra, a US Marine Corps veteran, recently returned to Michigan after working as a volunteer military instructor in Ukraine. Others seem jumpy and nervous. Then, three weeks ago, the word went out that only people with combat experience and Ukrainian or English fluency need apply. Such individual efforts are understandable, and the motives are at times even heroic but they are also often a mistake, and foreign governments should not encourage such private warfare. The Defense Department still has discouraged U.S. citizens from volunteering. He agrees that there was moral ambiguity to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Discovery Company. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon. "I'm still living on help from volunteers," Alvis said. There have been outlier cases of American civilians fighting for foreign armies -- in Ukraine since the war started with Russian separatists following the annexation of Crimea in 2014, and alongside Kurdish militias in Syria. We still do not believe that Ukraine is a safe place for Americans to go, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters March 7. You could be given orders at anytime to report to a duty station or deploy. They know every inch of the area. And I was in a pickup truck, just driving down the street., Theres tanks, and above us theres helicopters. People ask me all the time, Oh, this isnt your fight. Or, What are you doing over there? Yeah, but it wasnt our fight many times in history. And if any are still there, we urge them to leave.. So far, the embassy has received about 6,000 applications, Kremenestkiy said, adding that about half immediately were turned down for various reasons. The International Legion, formed after President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine issued a call in late February for foreigners to help fight, is considered the most selective of the foreign groups. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Ukraine says it has found more than 1,200 bodies in Kyiv region, Olena Zelenska reveals how she woke up to Russias invasion of Ukraine: I didnt realise it was an explosion, Ukrainian nuns open their monastery doors to the displaced, How did Boris Johnson get to Kyiv? In those first weeks, the government struggled to weed out the pretenders and war tourists who were out of their depth. WebThe International Legion of Territorial Defence of Ukraine, or the Ukrainian Foreign Legion, is a foreign military unit of the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine.It was created on 27 February 2022 by the Ukrainian government at the request of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to fight against the Russian invasion of the country. All rights reserved. No matter how many people that we removed from their side, they just kept coming., He and the other foreigners on his team were shocked, he says. The process from application to acceptance for Volzhanin took 24 hours. And thanks to this, the Kadyrov elite group was destroyed, which came here to eliminate our president., Donate here: Please give what you can to the Evening Standard Ukraine appeal. Jack Hoekstra posing in front of a sunflower field at an undisclosed location in Ukraine. Initially, Ukraine cast a wide net and was willing to accept foreign volunteers with just basic proficiency in Ukrainian or English. The listing for Silent Professionals said: Employer is a US-based corporation. They are the insurgents now. "Before the war, I was part of a special training facility for the security industry, and so I already knew how to operate several different weapons systems. He started out on a base in the West of the country before relocating to a site closer to the southern front around Mykoliav. Some Western fighters in Ukraine are receiving a regular paycheck, and the compensation is said to be identical to that of Ukrainian soldiers. This was a chair, he says, pointing to a metal frame. The Georgian National Legion hopes to relieve the Ukrainian military of some of the logistical burden that comes with organizing overseas recruits. It is not only Americans who are voluntarily taking up the cause of defending Ukraine at significant personal cost. A post by Maliar on social media Monday noted that the Ukrainian government will pay its soldiers 100,000 hryvnias -- about $3,300 -- per month. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said more than 20,000 people from 52 countries have already volunteered to fight in Ukraine, where they will serve in an international legion. Read Next: Captured Russian Troops Call Home While Filmed by Ukrainian Officials, Raising Geneva Convention Questions. But all three echoed similar concerns about Ukrainian embassies that are slow to process applications and worries about contractual obligations. And we work under their command.. Did you encounter any technical issues? -- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. They know the little alleyway that we can wait. In the 21st century, occupying a country where the population doesnt want that is a huge undertaking.. Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine upended all that, and Volzhanin instead answered President Volodymyr Zelenskys call for foreign volunteers to help Ukraine fight back. Some individuals, however, are doing more and are heeding President Volodymyr Zelenskyys call to join the fighting: Anyone who wants to join the defense of Ukraine, Europe and the world can come and fight side by side with the Ukrainians against the Russian war criminals. Ukraines foreign minister tweeted a call for an international legion to fight against Russia. Step 4. Foreigners may be more useful in a propaganda role to signal global unity rather than as a front-line fighting force. She is braced for her parents reaction when she finally speaks to them. Everything is much more decentralized, he explains. But his goal is to properly vet as many as possible, even if that takes longer than desirable. He has contacted Ukraine's U.S. Embassy about enlisting in Zelenskiy's "international legion." By clicking Sign up you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice. It really comes down to good versus evil, he says. Just barbaric. The use of foreign fighters goes to the very beginning of the armed conflict in Ukraine in 2014, with both the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and so-called Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics resorting to them in the fighting in East Ukraine. Damien Magrou, a French-Norwegian lawyer who is the spokesman for the Ukrainian militarys International Legion, said in an interview in April that he felt the war had struck a chord among many American veterans. Anyone can read what you share. "There's no legal repercussions, per se, it's just that you don't have the protection of your own government," Finkelstein said, adding that many Americans regularly serve, and even sustain injuries, in the Israeli armed forces. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Before foreigners are allowed to fight alongside the Ukrainians, first they need to prove they are fit to fight in body and mind, writes Robert Klemko, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile, An early group of volunteer fighters gather in Kyiv, from countries including Germany, the US and Sweden.
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