Ukraine Wants Foreign Reinforcements

Russian KA-52 “Hokum-B” Attack Helo

Numerous potential combatants on social media are expressing their desire to join in the fight in Ukraine. Most claim to be U.S. veterans. None of their stories could be verified.

Their interest is piqued by social media posts from Ukrainian government offices, offering “foreigners willing to defend Ukraine” the opportunity to join an “International Legion of Territorial Defense.”

Ukraine’s deputy minister of defense Hanna Maliar said that the country has received “thousands” of requests from foreigners to fight in their war.

Some are already there.

‘THIS IS THEIR 1776’: US ARMY VETERANS TRAIN UKRAINE CIVILIANS IN RESISTANCE WARFARE

By Nolan Peterson

KYIV, Ukraine — During his two tours in Afghanistan as an Army Ranger, Adam never wrote a death letter to his mother. After just two days in Ukraine, he’s finally ready to write that last farewell.

Although he’s come to help train civilians in irregular warfare, Adam, who spent four years of his early adulthood fighting insurgents in Afghanistan, says he’s now ready to join a Ukrainian insurgency — should Russian forces attack the capital city of Kyiv.

“I’m just here because the Ukrainians are fighting for their independence and I think I can help that. I figured it would be a better use of my time on this earth to come help them,” says Adam, who asked that his last name not be used due to security concerns.

“This is their 1776,” he adds.

A 25-year-old former US Army corporal from South Carolina, Adam served in the 1st Ranger Battalion from 2015 to 2019. On this Tuesday night, Feb. 8, he’s enjoying pizza and beer at a downtown Kyiv restaurant. When he starts to explain what it was like to say goodbye to his mother a few days ago, he pauses, takes a swig of beer, and waits a moment. For a split second, the young man’s eyes reflect the light a little differently. Then he blinks his eyes clear and says, “My mom really didn’t want me to go. It was the hardest goodbye of my life.”

Earlier that afternoon, Adam led a group of Ukrainian civilians through a basic military training course. Among the trainees was a 13-year-old boy named Oleg. Hours later while at dinner, Adam stares into his beer and explains that the sight of Oleg training for war had laid bare the potential human tragedy of a Russian re-invasion of Ukraine.

“He just looked so young,” Adam says. “That kid should be out playing with his friends, not getting ready for a Russian invasion.”

Good read at Coffee Or Die.

Before any sign up, best be aware of the potential legal ramifications of entering foreign service. Although a person’s service in the armed forces of a foreign country may not constitute a violation of U.S. law, such action could serve as a predicate act for the relinquishment of U.S. citizenship under 349(a)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) [8 U.S.C. 1481].

The Russians will likely consider one a war criminal if captured, without protections afforded under the Geneva Convention. The consequences of that need no explaining.

Category: Foreign Policy, Military issues, Russia