[297], According to an interview with a former German volunteer, around 800 to 1,000 people were at the base at the time of the Russian attack, of whom 100 were presumed dead. [41], Former New Zealander defense minister Ron Marks said that around 20 New Zealanders are fighting for the legion. [267], The first photo distributed by Ukraine of the International Legion reportedly showed volunteers from the United Kingdom. The foreign legion does now appear to be adapting. Here's what to do. Ukraine Counterattacks In Bakhmut, Blows Key Bridge Finland discourages its citizens from enlisting. 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. [79], On 7 March 2022, Time reported the Ukrainian embassy in Norway estimated 300 Norwegian nationals had signed up to volunteer at their embassy. [127], A Bulgarian citizen has declared he intends to go to Ukraine to join the International Legion, according to the Telegraph newspaper. In March 2022, Ministry of the Interior spokesman Harald Srs confirmed that the government intends to prosecute any violators of the law. Thousands volunteer to join Ukraine's International Legion army On 7 March 2022, the Ukrainian Embassy in Seoul reported it had received some 100 applications from South Korean volunteers. [174], Sky News reported in early March 2022 that at least one Iranian had traveled to Ukraine to join the International Legion. [143][144], The Croatian military envoy to Moscow eljko Akrap was summoned to the Russian Defense Ministry on 2 March 2022 and 3 March 2022 over allegations that 200 Croatian volunteers had joined the Ukrainian army. Ukraine's conflict with Russia is an interstate conflict of "national survival" against annexation, as was Finland's with the Soviet Union. Nu-mi nchipui cum ar fi s nu ai niciun ajutor", "Russia-Ukraine war: Kyiv invites Algerian fighters to Ukraine to 'protect world security', "Portparol Meunarodne legije u Ukrajini: Ovde Hrvati i Srbi ratuju rame uz rame", "S'pore citizens' duty is to S'pore: Vivian Balakrishnan on whether S'poreans can fight in Ukraine for Ukrainians", "Embassy: Some 100 S. Koreans Have Volunteered to Fight in Ukraine", "Navy SEAL-turned-YouTuber claims he left for Ukraine to participate in war as volunteer", "Rhee Keun-led team goes to Ukraine to fight against invader", "(LEAD) S. Korean volunteers deployed to front-line units in Ukraine: official", "Koreans in Ukraine end up on front lines", Ken Rhee gives an update of his whereabouts in Ukraine through Instagram, "Injured Ken Rhee expected back in Korea soon", "Injured South Korean fighter back from Ukraine faces investigation", ", ' ' 625 " "()", "S. Korea verifying Russia's data on deaths of 4 volunteer fighters in Ukraine", "678 frivilliga svenskar strider i Ukraina", "Indigenous Taiwanese man volunteers for Ukrainian Foreign Legion", "Taiwanese man denied entry into Ukrainian Foreign Legion - Focus Taiwan", "Taiwanese man takes up arms to defend adopted homeland Ukraine - Focus Taiwan", "2nd Taiwanese enlists in Ukrainian foreign legion", "Taiwanese man now fighting for Ukraine's foreign legion", "Wary of China threat, Taiwanese join Ukraine's fight against Russia", "Death of Taiwanese soldier exposes Kyiv's China dilemma", "Hualien man becomes 1st Taiwanese combatant to die in Ukraine war", "No Thai military volunteers in Ukraine, says charge d'affaires", "Savan iindeki ailesini kurtarmak iin Ukrayna ordusuna gnll yazlan Trk: Silahm alarak ordudan karttlar, 'Trkiye hkmeti, Trk milis almayn talebi iletti' dediler", "UK's Liz Truss: I support Brits who take up arms against Putin", "No 10 distances itself from Truss comments on UK volunteers for Ukraine", "Liz Truss criticised for backing Britons who wish to fight in Ukraine", "British volunteers who travel to fight in Ukraine could violate terror laws", "Zelensky's call for volunteers to defend Ukraine heeded by thousands from abroad", "Britons heed Zelensky's call to arms and head to Ukraine", "Don't fight in Ukraine military boss tells Britons", "Serving Coldstream Guard leaves Windsor barracks to fight Russian forces", "British soldier arrested after unauthorized trip to join Ukraine's foreign legion", "Ukraine war: Britons held by rebels in Ukraine plead not guilty", "Britons held by Russian forces in Ukraine released", "Ukraine conflict: British man Scott Sibley killed by mortar fire - inquest", "Ukraine war: Former British soldier Jordan Gatley killed in fighting", "Ukraine war: Briton killed while volunteering in Ukraine, says sister", "Ukraine war: Briton Simon Lingard killed in conflict", "Two British aid workers were killed during Ukraine evacuation", "Americans discouraged from going to Ukraine to fight Russia", "Ukraine says 3,000 Americans have volunteered to fight Russian invaders", "Ukrainian embassy draws US citizens seeking to fight in war", "Un venezolano se uni a la resistencia ucraniana para defender Kiev", "Jos David Chaparro, es el 'comandante' venezolano de una pequea divisin de voluntarios en Ucrania (Fotos y Video)", "Un diputado y 3 exmilitares se unen a la defensa de Ucrania: "No me puedo sentar en casa", "Ukraine's foreign legion joins the battle against Russia", Rhee Ken remains in Ukraine after team passed into Poland, "RFK grandson Conor Kennedy reveals he secretly fought on frontline in Ukraine", "A Georgian commander fighting Russian forces in Ukraine says more international support will help defeat Putin", "MSNBC analyst Malcolm Nance reveals he joined fight in Ukraine", "Former Gazprombank executive Igor Volobuev joins the Freedom to Russia Legion within the Ukrainian Armed Forces", "The Venezuelan 'comandante' in Ukraine - la Prensa Latina Media", " ", "Russia targets Ukrainian military base near Polish border in escalation: US national security adviser says any fire on neighbour of Ukraine would trigger full-force Nato response", "The base attacked in western Ukraine has been a hub for foreign militaries", "Enthllt auch sterreicher kmpfen im Ukraine-Krieg", "Deutscher Sldner in der Ukraine: 'Da kommt keiner lebend raus', "3 Georgian volunteer fighters killed in Ukraine, says Georgia's parliament head", " ", "Georgian volunteer dies in war in Ukraine", " ", " ", "Yesterday, October 3, during the assault operation, the Kalinoski Regiment suffered losses. [235][236] On May 20, Rhee was reported to be injured in the field, but is expected to make a recovery when he goes back to South Korea. Are Canadians fighting in Ukraine protected by the Geneva Convention Grasmeder argues states are likely to recruit foreign volunteers when fighting wars of "national survival" against another state attempting to annex their territory. The 2006 Prohibition of Mercenary Activities and Regulation of Certain Activities in Country of Armed Conflict Act amended the bill, but appears to have never been enforced. [28], The First Deputy Interior Minister of Ukraine, Yevhen Yenin, announced in March 2022 that volunteers to the International Legion would be eligible for Ukrainian citizenship, if desired. 02.Sep.2022 9:00 AM . I had to come & do what I can do best, do what I can do to protect Ukrainian people" Freedom is a choice. And security of "sources and methods" is always a concern. [240], On 7 March 2022, Time reported Spanish nationals had enlisted at the Ukrainian consulate in Barcelona. Brendan Hoffman for CNN [271] Craig Mackintosh was killed on August 24, 2022 while working as a volunteer medic. 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. [64], On 28 February, it was reported by Dnevnik.hr and Balkan Insight that Croatian fighters were already in Ukraine and more were intending to join them. The Ukrainian ambassador to Senegal was summoned and asked to take down the post. The same court had previously passed death sentences on two British members of regular Ukrainian units, under the same charges. The Government of the Republic of Moldova is not involved in such actions. On February 27, 2022, just two days after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for "friends of Ukraine, freedom and democracy" to volunteer for the Ukrainian Territorial . [273] Simon Lingard died of shrapnel wounds after his unit came under attack from Russian forces. [150], On 7 April, an anonymous Danish volunteer soldier claimed to have killed 100 Russian soldiers during various operations. 1:10 p.m. EST 12:40 p.m. EST. Ukraine has received more than . [134] A famous former Royal 22nd Regiment sniper nicknamed "Wali" from Montreal, called the deadliest sniper in the world after he reportedly eliminated 40 people a day as a sniper in Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, also arrived in Ukraine to join the fight against Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently referred to 16,000 foreigners joining the International Legion in "defense of Ukraine, Europe and the world." Now, according to the AP, there are . The foreign minister of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, said on February 27, via Twitter: "Foreigners willing to defend Ukraine and world order as part of the International Legion of Territorial Defense . Together we defeated Hitler, and we will defeat Putin, too. [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. [222], Ukraine has said some former Russian soldiers have switched sides and have now joined Kyiv's forces. [89], According to lawyers interviewed, a Japanese person who works under a foreign military to wage war against another country could potentially be charged under Article 93 of the Penal Code. Explained: Who are the '16,000 foreign fighters' in Ukraine joining the Ukraine forms 'international brigade' of foreign volunteers to fight It is extremely dangerous." Step 2. Additionally, Dutch military code bars active Dutch soldiers from joining a foreign army and Dutch law bars civilians from enlisting in an enemy army in a war in which the Netherlands participates. Il padre: "Mio figlio eroe di guerra", "Primul japonez ucis in lupta pe frontul din Ucraina. fightforua.org", "Exclusive: So many Canadian fighters in Ukraine, they have their own battalion, source says", "Twee Belgische militairen zijn naar Oekrane getrokken om mee te vechten tegen Rusland", "Small number of New Zealand personnel fighting in Ukraine - former defence minister", "Kiwis 'could join Ukraine revenge mission', "Dy shqiptar po luftojn n Ukrain, thot komandanti i Legjionit t Vullnetarve t Huaj", "Incompetence or the realities of war? In a tweet, the minister said: 'Foreigners willing to defend Ukraine and world order as part of the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine, I invite you to contract foreign . [188], On 1 March, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said, "I am aware that the Embassy of Ukraine in Japan is calling for such (volunteer soldiers), but I would like you to refrain from traveling to Ukraine, regardless of your purpose. The Latest in a Long Line: Ukraine's International Legion and a History ], The participation of any Hong Konger in the international legion was first officially documented in a thank-you video posted on Twitter on 18 December 2022 by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence. [206], There have already been reports of some Dutch casualties in the fighting around Lviv and Kyiv. The Netherlands discourages its citizens from enlisting and it is illegal for active-duty Dutch soldiers to enlist in the International Legion under Dutch law. She added that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's idea was not new since France already had a foreign legion. [226], The Singaporean Ministry of Home Affairs has stated that Singaporeans who are in Ukraine are potentially liable for any criminal offences committed outside Singapore, especially when fighting Russian-backed forces, with offenders liable for imprisonment from 15 years to life with fines included. When asked whether the law would also be applied to Austrians providing only humanitarian assistance, Srs responded it was "a matter for the courts to decide, not the executive." [70], Herv Grandjean, a spokesperson for France's Ministry for the Armed Forces, said individual volunteers could be "integrated in a body of Ukrainian volunteers" and "we cannot prevent them from leaving, (but) nor can we sanction that type of project." [119] One of the two was a 27-year old Belgian Ukrainian called Artem Dymyd from Charleroi who had enlisted in the Ukrainian Army in 2014 and who was killed by rocket fire in Donetsk. [203] [214] On February 4, 2023, it's reported that Abelen may have been shot and killed in a friendly fire incident. The fightforua.org website contains detailed step-by-step instructions on how to join the just fight against . [107] The battalion eventually grew to a regiment of over 1000 volunteers. The Risky Legal Status of Ukraine's Foreign Fighters One of the soldiers died heroically on the battlefield. However, North Macedonian law bars joining foreign armies. [27] Most of the volunteers who reached Lviv and applied were accepted.