Explained: Who are the ‘16,000 foreign fighters’ in Ukraine joining the resistance against Russia?

More than a week after the Russian invasion, the war in Ukraine is escalating. The civilian death toll is on the rise, cities are falling to Russian troops, and now a fire at Zaporizhzhia , Europe’s biggest nuclear plant, has sent alarm bells ringing. NATO countries are providing military aid to Ukraine and amid calls of help from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thousands of foreign fighters have volunteered to fight along with Ukrainian soldiers. Follow all LIVE updates on the Russia-Ukraine conflict here On 27 February, the country created an “International Legion of Territorial Defence” to help them stand up to the Russian military, which is bigger and more powerful than theirs. “I invite you to contact foreign diplomatic missions of Ukraine in your respective countries. Together we defeated Hitler, and we will defeat Putin, too,” said Dmytro Kuleba, minister of foreign affairs of Ukraine.

Foreigners willing to defend Ukraine and world order as part of the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine, I invite you to contact foreign diplomatic missions of Ukraine in your respective countries. Together we defeated Hitler, and we will defeat Putin, too.

— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 27, 2022

Four days on, the first batch of foreign fighters have reportedly reached the conflict-hit nation. “Ukraine is already greeting foreign volunteers. The first 16,000 are already on their way to protect freedom and life for us, and for all,” Zelenskyy said in a video address posted on Facebook on Thursday. But who are these foreign fighters? And where are they coming from? From Canada to Japan, citizens respond to Ukraine’s plea Western governments have refused to send their troops to Ukraine with the fear that it will trigger a world war. But moved by the plight of Ukrainians, many Americans, Canadians, and Europeans have decided to join the resistance, reports Reuters There are ex-servicemen ready to pick up arms for Ukraine but there is no dearth of civilians. A group of 10 NATO-trained war veterans—six Americans, three Brits, and a German—are all set to join the “international legion”. They were in Poland, preparing to cross over the border to Ukraine, reports Buzzfeed News. There are other former US military personnel joining hands. “I feel guilty not to go,” a 26-year-old American who served in the elite US 82nd Airborne Division infantry told the news agency Reuters.     Some are even quitting their jobs after seeing Zelenskyy’s plea. A comedian from Canada, Anthony Walker, flew to East Europe to enlist in the fight. On Twitter, he calls himself “Temporary Ukrainian” and his timeline is filled with updates about his journey. He’s a trained paramedic and hopes that he will be of help as hundreds continue to be injured every day in bombardments.

THINGS WE NEED:

- Foldable chairs
- Sleeping bags
- Blankets
- Hats, gloves, hand warmers
- VEHICLES from Poland to pick up refugees!!!
- TRANSLATORS!!! https://t.co/yvwhItfflU

— Anthony Walker - Слава Україні 🇺🇦 (@anthonycwalker) February 28, 2022

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Another Canadian, a cook quit his job to fight alongside Ukrainian soldiers and civilians. He has no military training but that has not shaken his resolve. “I felt like I had to do something,” Bryson Woolsey told Reuters. **Also read: Russian military operation puts the spotlight on Ukraine’s neo-Nazis: What you need to know about them** Around 70 Japanese, many former members of the country’s Self-Defense Forces and two veterans of the French Foreign Legion, have volunteered, according to a report by Mainichi Shimbun, one of the leading newspapers in the country.

ウクライナ「義勇兵」に日本人約70人が志願https://t.co/gXQI2PbYYK

全員が男性で、元自衛官が多く「ウクライナの若い人が亡くなるぐらいなら自分が戦う」などと理由を語っているということです。

— 毎日新聞 (@mainichi) March 1, 2022

The Georgian National Legion, a volunteer unit comprising mostly Georgian soldiers, is ready to come to Ukraine’s defence. Among those who had signed up since the announcement of the legion are around 70 from the UK and 50 from the US, VICE World News reported. Mamuka Mamulashvili, leader of the Georgian National Legion, told the website that even before the invasion around 200 foreign fighters have volunteered. “They want to fight for freedom and they want to fight for democratic values,” he added. How do you sign up to fight for Ukraine? The Ukrainian Embassy in the United States posted a QR code on Twitter, which redirects to a Google form to enrol in the forces.

For those in the U.S.: In order to join the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces, please download an Application Form and Instructions on the link: https://t.co/iUB6KPermZ or use QR Code: pic.twitter.com/33laoyKJNM

— UKR Embassy in USA (@UKRintheUSA) February 28, 2022

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There’s a Reddit thread that calls for Canadian volunteers with expertise in firearms and automatic rifles, reports India Today. Another thread titled “Volunteers for Ukraine” is for those who are willing to travel to the conflict areas or those willing to provide any aid. The Ukrainian embassy in Japan has been answering calls of volunteers but clarified that candidates must have “experience in Japan’s Self-Defence Forces or have undergone specialised training”. On Wednesday, the Ukrainian embassy in Japan wrote on Twitter that it was looking for volunteers with medical, IT, communication, or firefighting experience. It did not mention if the positions involved travelling to Ukraine, reports Reuters. What are governments saying? UK foreign secretary Liz Truss said that she supported those who might want to join the international force in Ukraine. Emphasising that this was a battle for democracy she told BBC that it was for people to make their own choice. The fight she said was “not just for Ukraine but for the whole of Europe”.   Canada’s foreign minister Melanie Joly echoed a similar view. While she said that the government had warned its citizens against travelling to Ukraine but Canadians can decide for themselves. “We understand that people of Ukrainian descent want to support their fellow Ukrainians and also that there is a desire to defend the motherland and in that sense, it is their own individual decision,” Joly told the media at a news conference held on Sunday. Denmark and Norway have hinted that their citizens could respond to Zelenskky’s call. However, Slovakia’s prosecutor general pointed out that it was a crime for citizens to fight for a foreign army, reports Vice World News.   https://twitter.com/KacperRekawek/status/1498285754266656772 Australian prime minister Scott Morrison has said that citizens should not secretly travel to Ukraine to take up arms. “I can understand, absolutely, the strong feelings and motivations for people to go… But I would say at this time, the legality of such actions is uncertain,” he added. The United States too has issued a warning against travel to the war-hit country. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News , Trending News ,  Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.