On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree temporarily lifting visa requirements for foreigners who want to travel to Ukraine to join a new “International Legion” to help fight against Russia.
Earlier on Monday, Ukraine’s deputy defense minister said the country had received “thousands” of requests from foreigners wishing to join the fight after Zelensky called for “citizens of the world” to come help.
Some US media outlets appear to be encouraging Americans to go to Ukraine to fight Russia. Military Times said it heard from several veterans that are interested in helping Ukraine and published detailed instructions on how to apply to join Ukraine’s new International Legion.”
Since 2014, some foreigners, including Americans, have traveled to Ukraine to join in the war against the separatists in the breakaway republics of Donestk and Luhansk in the eastern Donbas region. Foreigners have been known to join the Azov Battalion, the infamous neo-Nazi militia group that is now part of Ukraine’s National Guard.
In another attempt to recruit new fighters against Rusia, Zelensky also announced he was releasing prisoners with combat experience. “Ukrainians with real combat experience will be released from custody and will be able to compensate for their guilt in the hottest spots,” he said.
All this does is introduce chaos into Ukraine and increase the threat to the Ukrainian population, without changing the outcome of the conflict – total Russian victory – one iota.
The real way to peace and harmony! Already some of the released prisoners have had fights with others even before any Russian arrived in the scene. Just the way to control activities- let any civilian have a gun. Sounds a bit like the USA.
Brilliant. Waiting for all the wannabes to get on the first flight over. But they just like getting into costume. Not really interested if actual bullets are flying. Do you hear me Nate?
Give the guy a break, it is getting harder to get GI Joe action figures and going to Ukraine maybe the next best option.
The Ukrainians have good idea by allowing all kinds of nutjobs into their country. This will be one great idea that Ukraine will regret. The population will have to survive attacking Russians troops and marauding bands of foreign criminals.
Just like the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, the Lafayette Escadrille, and the Fighting Tigers!
How about you? You sound really committed to the Ukrainian cause. Maybe even come up with one of those quaint little names. Volodymyr is waiting.
I support the Ukrainian people in their fight against the invaders. I don’t want US boots on the ground, but I have no problem with people willing to join the people defending their homeland.
I meant you joining in on the defending.
This is bizzare. Is this man living in his own movie? It is not a Spanish civil war.
But countries like Georgia, did not allow Ukrainian plane to land and pick up volunteers. Georgia also refuses to imolement sanctions. Georgia knows from past unhappy experience that following the West bringdms them economic devastation.
What I do not understand is — where is Ukrainian army?
So far only Azov brigade is trying to stop Russian army to enter Mariupol. The town is surrounded, the pooulation rabbidly pro-Russian after 8 years of prossecution and killings. But no Ukrainian army. Russia is miving its troops st will accross Ukraine all the way to Kyev. I literraly do not know where are Ukrainian forces formung a frint. to prevent Rusdia mibmving at will. What will volunteers do?
The Ukrainian Army in the East is pinned at the contact line by the assault of the LDR forces (with help from the Russians.) They are almost surrounded and will be in a “cauldron” in the next couple days. Then they can either surrender or be annihilated. Also, that army has most of the armor and heavy artillery, so once they’re taken out, the remaining Ukrainian formations will be easier to deal with. Due to Russian strategy and Ukrainian incompetence, the war was lost for Ukraine in the first 24 hours.
Why does it feel as if the west is dealing with the unfortunate situation of the Ukrainian people like they are dispensable pawns?
Maybe few emotionally charged millennials will sign up to fight the evil Russians.