A group of British soldiers and a popular South Korean YouTuber are facing criminal charges and court martial for leaving their countries to fight as volunteer soldiers in Ukraine, underscoring the complex legal and political dynamics at play for the thousands of people responding to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
A British combat volunteer who said he is going to Ukraine to fight against the Russians.
Four British soldiers who went AWOL without leave are suspected to have joined the legion of foreign volunteers in Ukraine, which would violate a ban on service personnel traveling to the region.
Ken Rhee, a former navy officer and popular South Korean YouTuber, could face criminal charges for leaving the country without government approval, if his passport is revoked, because he is breaking local rules to travel to the region and fight.
The cases show the complexity of those answering Zelensky's plea for foreign help fighting against Russia.
The U.K., Australia and other countries warn would-be volunteers that going to fight for Ukraine could be breaking the law, and African nations have condemned Ukraine for trying to recruit its citizens.
Many countries, such as France or India, have laws against mercenaries or joining a force that acts against national interest, which could leave volunteers in a legal grey area if they join.
Many countries, including the U.S., strongly advise against volunteering to take up arms in Ukraine, though others, like Canada, have reportedly cleared the way for citizens to volunteer if they want to.
Foreign fighters are not a new phenomenon. Thousands have joined fighting with the eastern Donbas region since the civil war broke out in the country. Other recent examples include foreign fighters moving across regions of Africa, others from around the world traveling to join terrorist movements like al-Qaeda and the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, and American Albanians in Kosovo. The standards and usefulness of volunteers as well as their equipment can vary wildly, ranging from untrained enthusiasts with no relevant skills to combat-hardened veterans with expert knowledge and training. In an active warzone with scarce equipment or time to train, there is a very real danger of injury and death, though the lack of training and firepower is more common in the case of insurgency and guerrilla warfare.
The politics of foreign fighters is complicated by the fact that the individual serves in the military and Russia's claim that any country assisting Ukraine will be considered at war with Russia. Foreign soldiers fighting without the permission of their government are a PR nightmare and make for an especially potent propaganda tool, potentially inflaming international tensions and even expanding the war. Foreign civilians who have volunteered to fight in war can stoke political tensions back home.
20,000. According to the Associated Press and CNN, the number of people who have expressed an interest in volunteering for the International Legion is unknown. It is not known how many of the volunteers from 52 different countries will go on to serve in the Legion.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Russia is hiring Syrian fighters to help it take and hold key Ukrainian cities.
Ukrainians offer purpose, camaraderie and a cause for foreign fighters.
I just can't stand by and watch the fight in Ukraine.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
