Righteous fight as a legionnaire
3,000 US veterans go to war for Ukraine
03/06/2022 12:27 p.m
Shortly after the Russian troops marched in, Ukrainian President Zelenskyj established a Foreign Legion. The response seems huge, with thousands of veterans from the United States alone wanting to go to war against Russia. They see the conflict as just – and as a way to say thank you.
Since yesterday, foreigners can go to war for Ukraine. “Join the International Defense Legion and help us defend Ukraine, Europe and the rest of the world against Russian aggressors,” wrote the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Facebook.
A little later, in another post, the Ukrainian military shared two links: The first leads to a website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There, volunteers can find out under what conditions they can join the so-called Foreign Legion. On a second website, dated Department of Defense is operated, you can register directly. And the “International Legion of Ukraine,” set up by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shortly after the Russian invasion, appears to be enjoying great popularity.
“Across the United States, small groups of veterans meet to plan their trip,” the newspaper writes “New York Times” in a report on former US soldiers who want to come to the aid of Ukraine. “After years of trying to bring democracy to regions that most people didn’t care about at all, they see the war in Ukraine as a fair fight. They want to defend freedom,” it says, “against a supposedly simple enemy: an aggressive autocrat with an army that offers many targets.”
Good and evil clearly divided
Some US soldiers have already left to join the Ukrainian legion. A two-time Iraqi veteran, for example, who takes several bags full of rifle scopes, helmets and protective vests to distribute on site.
“The good and the bad are clearly divided,” says another veteran in the report. “Perhaps that distinguishes Ukraine from other conflicts.” He does not join the Foreign Legion, but supports others in the group “Volunteers for Ukraine” preparing for the perilous journey. “It was overwhelming,” he says. “There were almost too many people who wanted to help.”
It is not possible to put a figure on how many Americans want to follow the call of the Ukrainian president. Last Thursday, Selenskyj appeared in a video Telegram it was said that 16,000 volunteers had already signed up for the international troop. A number that at least seems to exceed the helpfulness of US veterans.
“I want to thank him in this way”
the “Voice of America”, the American equivalent of Deutsche Welle, reports, citing a representative of the Ukrainian embassy in Washington, that 3,000 Americans have agreed to join the volunteer army. Many other fighters have reported from other countries, it is said. Most of them come from former Soviet republics such as Belarus or Georgia.
“They can send me wherever they need me,” another Iraqi veteran told American international radio. He worked as an instructor, but also led other soldiers into combat in Iraq.
Including a Ukrainian, he explains why he wants to leave the USA and go to war. “He took American citizenship, joined the army and went to Iraq.” There he told about his homeland, says the current legionnaire. “Maybe I can help protect his mother in Ukraine, or his little sister, or their house. I think this is my way of thanking him for serving the United States.”