Some have refused", "Ukraine: Foreign fighters 'offered 1,500 a day to fight against Russia', "Legion of the damned: Inside Ukraine's army of misfits, veterans, and war tourists in the fight against Russia", "Zelensky says 16,000 foreigners have volunteered to fight for Ukraine against Russian invasion", "French volunteers rally to Zelenskyy's call to join war in Ukraine", "U.S., Mexico, India Volunteers Among Foreign Force Fighting for Ukraine, Says Military", "Tristan, from Belgium: "I came to join the International Legion of Defense of #Ukraine for freedom in Europe. [241], The first photo distributed by Ukraine of the International Legion reportedly showed Swedish volunteers.[37]. The two were married on February 24, 2022 - the day of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine - and both joined the Kyiv territorial defense forces to help repel the Russians. [61], Some casualties have been officially reported. It is illegal for Singaporean citizens to enlist in the International Legion under Singaporean law. And security of "sources and methods" is always a concern. Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 27, 2022 [30], A British volunteer said that the contract required to join the International Legion limits pay to 7,000 a month (US$230) and extends for the duration of the war, although some volunteers were allowed to leave after signing. [262], Ukrainian sources said 6,000 Britons had registered an interest in joining. 2 min read. ", "Russia Vows Prosecution of Foreign Fighters After 16K Join Ukraine", "Senegal calls Ukraine embassy war recruitment post illegal, summons ambassador", "Serbia vows punishment for volunteers going to Ukraine", "Offence for anyone in Singapore to travel to Ukraine to take up arms: MHA", "Niektor Slovci chc s bojova na Ukrajinu, pomoc na fronte je trestn", "Hundreds of South Africans eager to join fight against Russian invasion Ukraine's ambassador to SA", "9 South Koreans currently in Ukraine as volunteer fighters: Report", "Mercenarios o voluntarios? [202], The first photo distributed by Ukraine of the International Legion reportedly showed Mexican volunteers. If such an act is committed by a legal person, it is punishable by a pecuniary punishment. Hundreds of American, [] Write an application for enlistment. [37], The Prime Minister of Moldova, Natalia Gavrilia, was asked during a press conference on 28 February 2022 whether citizens of Moldova can join the International Legion. [265], It was reported that a 19 year old Royal Marine reservist called Nana and another one of his comrades left their homes and are fighting in the Eastern Ukraine Campaign. This is a huge loss for all of us. [276] The Neutrality Act of 1794, a federal law whose provisions remains in effect as of March 2022, prohibits United States citizens from taking up arms while on US territory against any country at peace with the United States. [195], On 11 November, Tokyo has confirmed that a Japanese volunteer was killed fighting Russian troops,[196] in only days after mourning his Taiwanese comrade's death in the Luhansk front. [157] The French Foreign Legion prevents current serving legionnaires from serving in Ukraine. [362], Members of the Legion, according to The Kyiv Independent, repeatedly reported this to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, the Verkhovna Rada and the Office of the President of Ukraine, but received no proper answer.[362]. ", "Meet the Foreign Volunteers Risking Their Lives to Defend Ukraineand Europe", "Volunteers from Belgium sign up for Ukraine's foreign legion", "Sign Me Up for Ukraine Fight: Not So Fast, Say SE Asia Govts", "Canadian troops ordered to stay away as foreign fighters flock to Ukraine", "Foreign Fighters In Ukraine: Is It Legal? Noman elebicihan posted", "Who Are the Americans Who Went to Fight in Ukraine? On 9 March, a 19-year old Coldstream Guard soldier left his barracks at Windsor and traveled to Poland in order to enlist with the legion. The regiment expresses its sincere condolences to the relatives", " ", " ", "American killed fighting alongside Ukrainian forces in Ukraine", "2 Americans dead in eastern Ukraine: Officials", "Exclusive: U.S. Some volunteers cited Ukraine's quickness to recognize Croatia's independence in 1991 as a causus belli to join Ukraine. During the interview, the official laid out what the process and requirements are for foreign volunteers to join the newly-formed "International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine." Ukrainian officials are recommending (but not requiring) that volunteers take their own gear like body armor, gloves, load-bearing vests, helmets, and the . 'Ukraine will pay its soldiers 100 thousand hryvnias per month, - the Cabinet . The National Post reported that at least one South African national was recruited into the Norman Brigade. An Estonian-based private military contractor (PMC) called Iron Navy that offers security services for government entities and businesses operating in "high-risk areas or conflict zones," posted on Facebook on February 11 about a project in Ukraine to protect civilians endangered by mines and unexploded ordnance. [33], Kacper Rkawek, a researcher on foreign fighters in Ukraine, stressed the large number of volunteers announced by Ukraine were "people who applied, who got in touch with the Ukrainian Embassy" and not necessarily the number of foreign fighters in Ukraine. n 288 "Arruolamenti o armamenti non autorizzati a servizio di uno Stato estero" del Codice Penale", "Foreign Fighters from Asia in Ukraine? In reaction to this development, the spokesman of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Igor Konashenkov, warned . They left for Ukraine on February 28. [38][39][bettersourceneeded][original research? [116][117] Concerns were raised about the personal backgrounds and political profile of some of the Belgian volunteers. [212], On August 25, 2022, Dominic Abelen was reported as the first New Zealand volunteer to be killed in action in the legion, who joined while on leave from the New Zealand military. February 27, 2022, the president of Ukraine called the foreigners wishing to stand for the defense of the world's security, to join the special unit of the International Legion of territorial defense. Le sulfureux casting belge de la Lgion ukrainienne", "Russisch ministerie van Defensie: 'Twee Belgische strijders omgekomen in Oekrane', "Guerre en Ukraine: qui est Artem Dymyd, l'un des deux Belges tus Donetsk? That's A Moment for Worry", "No pasarn: anti-fascist slogan takes on new significance in Ukraine crisis", "Ukraine's foreign fighters have little in common with those who signed up to fight in the Spanish Civil War", "From the role of international volunteers to debates about Western intervention, there are many comparisons to be made between Ukraine and the Spanish Civil War", "The International Legion for the Territorial Defense of Ukraine was created", "Volunteer fighters arrive in Ukraine. However, it is illegal for Slovakian citizens to join a foreign army without a permit from the Slovakian government. It is illegal for Uzbek citizens to enlist in the International Legion. It is illegal for Serbian citizens to enlist in the International Legion under Serbian law. He did not mention the home countries of the volunteers, saying that some of the countries forbid their citizens from fighting for other countries. Prepare your documents and equipment according to the Embassy requirements. Later that evening, Ukraine's Minster of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, tweeted that Ukraine had officially formed the International Legion of [the] Territorial Defense of Ukraine. [279], Jos David Chaparro, a Venezuelan from San Cristbal who settled in Kyiv in the early 90s and served as Venezuela's charg d'affaires in Moscow between 2001 and 2005, enlisted in the Territorial Defense Forces in the second day of the invasion and became the commander of a division of Ukrainian volunteers. Receive . [218], A Peruvian former soldier discharged from the Peruvian army, Csar Eduardo Prez Farfn, is reported to have traveled to Ukraine to join the International legion. [176], Rory Mason was the first Irish volunteer killed in the Kharkiv region in late September or early October 2022. Sebastiaan Faber of Oberlin College in the US argued that depicting the Legion as part of a war between fascism and anti-fascism risks playing "into the Kremlin's narrative, which seeks to portray the "special military operation" as an effort to "denazify" its western neighbor." [172] Later on, the student's family said that the student is willing to leave the Georgian National Legion and return to his home in India. During the interview, the official laid out what the process and requirements are for foreign volunteers to join the newly-formed "International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine." Ukrainian officials are recommending (but not requiring) that volunteers take their own gear like body armor, gloves, load-bearing vests, helmets, and the . He said: "The first Irish veterans they have to have military experience arrived in Ukraine last night, which is good to see because they have the Irish tricolor on their arm". [40] Belgian Minister of Defence Ludivine Dedonder confirmed on 15 March 2022 that one Belgian soldier had resigned to join the International Legion and another Belgian soldier had deserted to enlist in the International Legion. [242], Some members of groups opposing Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian Civil War have attempted to travel to Ukraine, motivated by Russia's support of the Assad regime. [214] On February 4, 2023, it's reported that Abelen may have been shot and killed in a friendly fire incident. Despite this two Kosovar citizens reportedly travelled to join the International Legion in early March 2022. [141], Croatian law penalizes organizing the departure or going to war in another country if it violates the constitutional order of that country, undermines the territorial integrity of the country and if the person is a mercenary. Share. [278], The first photo distributed by Ukraine of the International Legion reportedly showed American volunteers. Step 1. and reiterated "in order to urge Russia to stop its military aggression against Ukraine, Taiwan will participate in the economic sanctions imposed on Russia along with the international community. El Espectador managed to get in touch with one of the former Colombian soldiers, identified as Camilo Snchez, who said in the interview he and the group of ex-soldiers had contacted a Ukrainian military official to enlist. [185], Giulia Schiff, an ex-Italian Air Force pilot, was reported to be in Kyiv after she enlisted with the legion's special forces unit. [103] On 22 March, it was reported that an unknown number of Argentinians have signed up to join. Before being deleted, the video featured the national flags of the home countries of the volunteers, including the Black Bauhinia flag of Hong Kong. Georgia discourages its citizens from enlisting. International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine. Australia discourages its citizens from enlisting and the legality of volunteering under Australian law is unclear. Ukrainian soldiers inspect a damaged military vehicle after fighting in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022. This development would also assist in embarrassing the Western governments, who in the eyes of many Ukrainians are not doing enough to support Kyiv. [31][32], It has been reported that initial training and selection of volunteers had led to "uneven" performance and that the initial intake had already been dismissed by the Ukrainian authorities, with one anonymous Ukrainian general stating "we should only take experienced combat veterans that is the lesson that we are learning the others don't know what they are getting themselves into and when they find out, they want to go home". [231], Damien Magrou reported to South Korean media on 28 March that South Korean volunteers are already deployed and fighting Russian troops. Already many veterans are asking how to join the effort and what steps to take. [206], There have already been reports of some Dutch casualties in the fighting around Lviv and Kyiv. 7 steps. The announcement was made on Twitter by his acquaintance. [37], In late February 2022, The Star reported that two Malaysians joined the Territorial Defense Army in Kyiv. [224], In a BBC Focus Africa program on June 23, 2022, Russian Ministry of Defense officials claimed that four Senegalese volunteers were killed while under Ukrainian command. Together we defeated Hitler, and we will defeat Putin, too. [219], Polish citizens may join the army of foreign countries only after approval of a written application by the Polish Ministry of National Defense. [260] The statement was also criticized by several politicians who said volunteers may be in violation of the Foreign Enlistment Act 1870. Interview with a Defense Attach of the Embassy of Ukraine to review your application to volunteer for military service. Step 1. Contact the Embassy of Ukraine in your country with the intention to join the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine (reach out to a military attache or consul: contact details are available on the website of our embassies): You can apply in three ways: 1) come to the embassy in person; 2) call the embassy; 3) send an e . The gratitude video prompted strong criticism from the Chinese and Hong Kong governments. ", "Retour du tireur d'lite Wali | " La guerre, c'est une dception terrible ", "50 exmilitares de Colombia se unirn a Legin Internacional de Defensa en Ucrania", "La historia de Luis Lagos, el chileno que se uni a la milicia ucraniana para pelear contra los rusos", "Exmilitares colombianos se preparan para defender a Ucrania de la invasin rusa", "Christian Mrquez, el colombiano que muri en Ucrania, peleando una guerra ajena", "Croatian Volunteer Fighters Head for Ukrainian Frontline".