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Although many call it the third world war, experts say that this armed conflict (which has already caused more than 75,000 fatalities on both sides) is a new "cold war". To reprint or license this article or any content from Military.com, please submit your request. You could be given orders at anytime to report to a duty station or deploy. Legion The veteran is no stranger to volunteering in foreign war zones. For every applicant who disappoints, theres one who inspires. The platoon that the missing Americans belonged to was one of dozens of loosely organized volunteer outfits that have absorbed foreign veterans, including many Americans. On the list, there are now about 750 men, mostly from Georgia, and the United Kingdom. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this month that 16,000 foreigners had traveled to his country to fight Russian forces. 2023 Cable News Network. So it's nice that we're getting paid, but I'm making a fraction of what I was making six months ago.". Daniel L. Byman Senior Fellow - Foreign Policy , Center for Middle East As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Russia has maintained that some of foreign fighters it has captured are mercenaries. Kevin, a stocky American in his early 30s, climbs over the charred rubble of a former sauna and shines the light from his iPhone through the dust. On Friday, the Ukrainian Embassy spokesman told Military.com that volunteers would not be paid a salary so as not to make them "mercenaries.". But he knows that Ukraine is where I should be, and plans to stay in the country for the foreseeable future. However, there is a political benefit for Ukraine in receiving volunteers from abroad, as this makes the Ukrainian cause more relevant in other countries. Only highly experienced candidates who possess at least 5+ years of military experience in this region of Europe will be considered for this role no exceptions.. With insiders in Russias Federal Security Service, three attempts have so far been foiled. It is best for governments to encourage those motivated to help to dedicate themselves to fundraising, medical care and other vital but non-violent activity, ideally helping refugees and other vulnerable populations outside the war zones. If youre tied up volunteering in Ukraine you would miss movement and be subject among other things in the UCMJ. The foreign volunteers also provided dramatic evidence of worldwide support for the Ukrainian cause. And theyll tell you before we get there, hey, five houses over has a real nice basement. Foreign Legion By March 6, they had received more than 20,000 applications, according to the foreign minister. Three veterans spoke with Military Times and offered a mix of plans for how they would fight in Ukraine. At first, Hoekstra tried to connect up with the newly established Ukrainian Foreign Legion through official diplomatic channels, but finding that bureaucratic route too slow, he bought a plane ticket to Poland. Read all the Order from Chaos content, the Ukraine conflict, which has waxed and waned since 2014, attracted foreign fighters, Spreading Hate: The Global Rise of White Supremacist Terrorism, Road Warriors: Foreign Fighters in the Armies of Jihad, something the government did after the 2014 influx, How Middle Eastern conflicts are playing out on social media. The primary definition of a mercenary under international law is someone fighting primarily for financial gain who is paid substantially more than local armed forces. This article may not be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. One study found that when foreign fighters deploy, violence against civilians goes up. And in many other instances, foreign fighters become skilled through a brutal Darwinian process once they arrive to fight. WebRussias government has accused Ukraine of hiring mercenaries to supplement its military an allegation the legion denies. Former US soldier now fighting in Ukraine tells of days trapped in I also speak several languages, and given how valuable someone with my skillset was going to be in the current situation, I just understood that I was supposed to be in this location at this time.". be resilientRussiaUCMCUkraineVolodymyr Zelenskyiwar, 2 Khreshchatyk Street, 01001 Kyiv, Ukraine, International Legion of Defense of Ukraine: how to join, Ukrainian farmers risking life for a harvest on mined fields, Day 429: massive Russian missile strike claims 25 lives, including four children, Day 427: Zelenskyi speaks with Chinas Xi for first time since Russia invaded Ukraine, Day 422: Ukraine Defense Contact Group meets for 11th time, Zelenskyi to attend NATO summit in Vilnius, Ukrainian stand up in war A breath of fresh air, Case of Ukraine in Global Soft Power Index 2023. WebFind many great new & used options and get the best deals for Foreign Legion, Legion etrangere combat jacket new 89/96M, T4 S2, 3C at the best online prices at eBay! Select PayPal Credit at checkout to have the option to pay over time. Read Next: Captured Russian Troops Call Home While Filmed by Ukrainian Officials, Raising Geneva Convention Questions. It is good to keep in mind that many of these foreign volunteers come with their own motivations and without military background. Ukraine What we want to do is make sure that reality hits early on in the process., To that end, interviewers ask bluntly: Are you truly prepared to die?. The once-affluent suburb is now synonymous with alleged Russian war crimes a pilgrimage site for visiting dignitaries whove beaten a path to its shell-scarred streets. appreciated. By early March, Zelensky claimed that 16,000 people had signed up for the foreign legion. Earlier this week, Liz Truss said she supported individuals who wished to join the fight in the UK. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Ukraine 2 City and Convoy Nears Kyiv. 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. 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. [9] History [ edit] Background [ edit] A local court in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region found that the two British and one Moroccan fighters, who had immigrated to Ukraine, were guilty of training for the purpose of carrying out terrorist activities and that they undertook their activities for a fee.. Jack Hoekstra, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran in his mid-20s, withdrew from the Detroit Police Academy in order to take up the fight for Ukraine. Alvis, a Latvian citizen in his late 20s, had already been living in Kyiv for three years when the war began. Absolutely, if people want to support that struggle, I would support them in doing that.. Foreigners wishing to join intl legion to be assisted as much as possible to enter Ukraine Foreign Minister KYIV. Dozens of Americans, Canadians, and other foreigners are already trying to take up arms, and the U.K. foreign secretary, Liz Truss, signaled her support for British nationals who would do so. Jack Hoekstra posing in front of a sunflower field at an undisclosed location in Ukraine. He, not the enemy, was the one who had to worry about airstrikes. 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. Step 4. He had connected with a group of like-minded U.S. veterans on Reddit. But all three echoed similar concerns about Ukrainian embassies that are slow to process applications and worries about contractual obligations. Kevin walks through what remains of the building, which was ravaged by fire. Being on this side now, and hearing their conversations on their radio and them knowing, okay, theyre out there somewhere, we dont know where or who it is theres definitely an advantage to that, he says. Initially, Ukraine cast a wide net and was willing to accept foreign volunteers with just basic proficiency in Ukrainian or English. Few Americans have died fighting in Ukraine's International Legion, making Washington's casualties all the more remarkable. They know which building to go to. Its not your problem until its your problem.. Ukraine Foreigners may be more useful in a propaganda role to signal global unity rather than as a front-line fighting force. Anyone can read what you share. Ukraine Hundreds of the far-right party National Corps members waved flags and protested. Ukraine SCOTUS Now Just Another Congressional Committee, Secret Chinese Police Stations in Europe Are 'Tip of the Iceberg', Trump's Attorney Just Blew Carroll Rape Case, King Charles Says Royals Require 'Acting Ability', Ukraine Will Regain 'Significant Territory' From Russia, Florida GOP Paves the Way to Help Ron DeSantis Challenge Trump. WebFind many great new & used options and get the best deals for Foreign Legion, Legion etrangere combat jacket new 89/96M, T4 S2, 3C at the best online prices at eBay! They are eager for combat and (in the case of jihadis) martyrdom, but overall add little to the combat power of their fellow fighters, especially in cases, like Afghanistan in the 1980s and Ukraine today, where there is plenty of manpower. We started taking indirect fire driving in small arms fire driving in. Everything was on fire. Mamulashvili leads the Georgian National Legion, one of several paramilitaries integrated into the Ukrainian armed forces after the War in the Donbas, part of the larger conflict between Russia and Ukraine, began in 2014. And I was in a pickup truck, just driving down the street., Theres tanks, and above us theres helicopters. WebStep 1A: Contact your 'local' Ukrainian embassy. 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. 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. "It was so clear which side in this war was right and which side was wrong, and I just felt like I had to do whatever I could to help the right side.". And if any are still there, we urge them to leave.. Olga Voitovych contributed to this story. The way the Russians invaded, the only way it made sense is if they actually believe in their own propaganda, he says. While many of these aspiring soldiers appear to have returned home without having made a significant contribution to the war effort, those with the appropriate motivation and military skill sets continue to aid the war effort as instructors, translators, and frontline fighters. Kihk said his Ukrainian contacts doubt such units can constitute any considerable forces.. While some of the volunteers will no doubt contribute to the military effort on the Ukrainian side, many probably wont have much of an effect, Kihk told Military Times. We have realised that training people who dont have that experience drains a lot of resources. For Americans, this should be an especially strong worry, she added. We urge them not to go. During the defense's cross-examination of E. Jean Carroll, Trump's attorney asked the writer why she "did not scream" when she was "supposedly raped.". foreign Get instructions on how to arrive in Ukraine and about the necessary documents and equipment. They Went to Ukraine to Be War Heroes - Business Insider In some instances, however, the fighters themselves come with skills one report indicates that American and British special operations forces veterans are preparing to deploy to Ukraine and this cohort can be far more useful. Officials have been checking the backgrounds of international applicants via the embassies of their nations to judge if they are being truthful about their qualifications. Russia threatens to execute Western volunteers as Ukrainian foreign legion grows. 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. For the first time in his life, Kevin was defending against invasion by a better-equipped enemy. 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. Indeed, even before the latest round, the Ukraine conflict, which has waxed and waned since 2014, attracted foreign fighters: some to help Russia and its promise of anti-LGBTQ, anti-left wing, muscular nationalism; others to help defend Ukraine from foreign aggression. Some applicants never get to that stage. But experts warn that would-be volunteers should be aware that joining a volunteer brigade is risky and devoid of many of the protections Americans, especially veterans, would expect on the battlefield. That is a clear indication that the person is not here for the right reasons, Magrou says. The poll also found 18% believe American citizens shouldnt be allowed to voluntarily enlist in foreign armies under any circumstances. Ukrainian officials have claimed up to 16,000 soldiers had come forward after visa requirements were waved in order to attract troops. Kyle Rempfer was an editor and reporter who has covered combat operations, criminal cases, foreign military assistance and training accidents. Arrive at the Embassy with documents for an interview with the Defense Attach and settlement of visa issues with the Consul. Most of the fighters who did return to their home countries were not involved in terrorism, but those who were proved more competent and deadly. 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. The remaining 4,000 foreign fighters have served on behalf of the Ukrainian government, whether in paramilitary militias or in the regular armed forces. They vetted me and put me into a Signal group chat with about 15 people and weve been organizing, said the U.S. veteran, who asked that his name be withheld for this article. Some fighting with other groups are given one-time payments to defray their expenses, while others are unpaid. 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. Ukraine They have no experience in doing such a job. If those risks don't put you off, the good news is that legally there are few issues with Americans fighting in another country's war. Given that the Ukrainian army was only 145,000 strong at the beginning of the conflict, this would have provided a major boost in strength. "We're defenders, not aggressors, and that's why we'll win. 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. Switch to the dark mode that's kinder on your eyes at night time. She is braced for her parents reaction when she finally speaks to them. There was no master plan, no air support and there would be no evacuation in case of disaster. Because this is a trench-fighting war with modern-day technology, she explains, its a war unlike anyone has ever seen.. A native Ukrainian who moved to Canada more than 20 years ago, he has become a valuable cog in the new and evolving machinery of the International Legion for the Defence of Ukraine especially as its scrutiny of applicants has increased. foreign legion So far, the embassy has received about 6,000 applications, Kremenestkiy said, adding that about half immediately were turned down for various reasons. 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. It's giving them the same sort of rights and privileges, and has the ability to confer, at least in principle, the same combatant immunity that anyone else would have," she explained. Contacts will be provided at the Embassy of Ukraine in your country. Ukraine has created a foreign legion of volunteers for foreigners who wish to join their battle against Russia. LVIV, UkraineIrakli Okruashvili, a former defense minister of Georgia, last week joined a Ukrainian foreign-fighter regiment created to face down the Russian invasion in a hurry. Foreign Nor are the foreigners necessarily good for the very people they seek to defend. On Friday, President Biden said that he had been briefed on the two Americans reported to be missing in Ukraine, and that the administration does not know of their current location. 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. As they say, like, This is normal, dont worry about it.. Foreign 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. Ukraine Most end up as cannon fodder. The government pays him and his colleagues a modest salary of They know the little alleyway that we can wait. Like Alvis, international military veterans who are accepted into Ukraine's Foreign Legion sign a contract guaranteeing them a salary frequently cited by Ukraine How many volunteers will go to Ukraine is unknown, but the mass recruitment of foreign fighters is hardly new, as David Malet and others have chronicled. International Legion (Ukraine) - Wikipedia It really comes down to good versus evil, he says. It was like a movie, he says. You must be at least 18 years old to create an account, Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number, I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from Evening Standard. The foreign fighters are often more useful in an insurgency, which Ukraine may become. The day after we met him, Frenchman, the young drone operator and French Foreign Legion veteran who used to run a bar in Lviv, was killed in a Russian attack. Borys Wrzesnewskyj, a former Liberal lawmaker in Canada who is helping to facilitate recruitment there, said about 1,000 Canadians have applied to fight for Ukraine, the vast majority of whom don't have any ties to the country. The outpouring of support for beleaguered Ukraine is astounding: governments around the world are joining sanctions and shunning Russia. His mother has become a voracious reader of war-related news. "If I weren't here, a lot of good people would have died.". legion The Times We are not using Kevins full name because of the nature of his work in Ukraine. 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.". 10:26 PM EDT, Mon May 23, 2022, Special forces vet in Ukraine: 'It really comes down to good vs. evil', A destroyed house by a rocket launched from a Russian airplane in Bakhmur, Donbas, Ukraine. This is where I know I should be. Russian propaganda characterizes such figures as highly paid mercenaries, but the reality on the ground tells a different story. Foreign Legion Ukraines prosecutor general, Iryna Venediktova, is investigating thousands of cases of alleged Russian war crimes across the country, and the top war crimes prosecutor for the International Criminal Court has traveled to Ukraine to investigate. Weve seen this play out time and time again in history. Georgian Legion (Ukraine Step 3. "The embarrassment is just going to keep growing over this," Laura Harth, the campaign director at Safeguard Defenders, told Newsweek. Mamulashvilis Georgian National Legion was organized in 2014 and has served as a clearinghouse for some of those foreigners who fought on the Ukrainian side. We work with several different structures. Representatives of Ukrainian Embassies, Consulates (abroad) and Territorial Defense in Ukraine will provide assistance on the way. We call it the house of horrors, because it was literally a nightmare in there, he says. A Warner Bros. But vetters have to parse out those with criminal records and those who are too old or otherwise unfit for service. This said, one possible explanation for the existence of volunteer units could be red tape, he explained. Interviewers regularly encounter applicants who overstate their service record. A spokesman for the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington, D.C., did not immediately respond to questions regarding the number of applications it had received as of Tuesday. A wealthy tech executive is using his own money to fund hundreds of foreign volunteers looking to fight against Russia in Ukraine Urooba Jamal 2022-03-10T16:08:06Z A lot of the Russians came back through some of these places and re-mined them, put [in] booby traps.. 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. Foreign Fighters From U.S., Other Countries Put Lives on Line for Discovery Company. International Legion of Defense of Ukraine: how to join It was murder. Ukraine has a history of volunteer battalions that sprouted up in the early days of the War in the Donbas. Others seem jumpy and nervous. Hoekstra, a US Marine Corps veteran, recently returned to Michigan after working as a volunteer military instructor in Ukraine. He signed up anyway. International law requires foreign legionnaires be paid no more than regular soldiers. Ukraine Wed already seen civilians just outright murdered., Video shows Russian soldiers killing 2 civilians before they ransack a business. I feel morally obligated to be here, Eira says. "I was a volunteer in Ukraine, and so were all of the guys I was working with", "If I were rich, then I'd still be over in Ukraine working for free," he added, "but I'm not, and so I have to be back at home worrying about what I'm going to do when I come off of my parents' health insurance next year.". 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. Thats where we should go.. The American veterans who are missing are Alex Drueke, 39, a former U.S. Army staff sergeant who served in Iraq, and Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh, 27, a former Marine, family members said. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine announced the formation of the legion on Feb. 27, three days after the invasion began, and invited foreign volunteers to 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. 2. The propaganda value may be considerable.. While U.S. citizens can go abroad to enlist in a foreign military, they could be in legal trouble if theyre recruited or hired in the U.S., which may be why Ukraine is having volunteers sign contracts when they arrive. 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. The French Foreign Legion is a complete, captivating study of the famed fighting force, from its inception in 1831 to modern times. Hanna Maliar, Ukraine's deputy minister of defense, said Monday that the country has received "thousands" of requests from foreigners to fight in their war. Legion Then, Igor told them he wasnt leaving. 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