[280], Under Article 425 of the Vietnamese Criminal Code, it states that anyone who fights as a mercenary to fight against another country will be imprisoned from 5 to 15 years. 1. Ukraine has received more than . [74], However, only one 21-year-old Indian student in Kharkiv is known to have joined the Georgian National Legion in 2022. [239], On June 18, 2022, the South Korean government is checking claims that four South Korean nationals are killed in action fighting with the legion. [143], On 27 February 2022, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovi commented on news of the possible departure of Croatian volunteers to Ukraine after the announcement of the formation of the International Legion, saying "Every departure to Ukraine is an act of individuals and they take personal responsibility". There are so many of those Canadian volunteer soldiers in Ukraine now they have their own brigade, part of an "International Legion" the Ukrainian government says is at least 20,000-strong. [26], The criteria listed for joining included having prior military or medical experience and submitting documents as proof of military service to the Ministry of Defense official at the Ukrainian embassy. Foreign fighters can be sentenced to up to seven years upon return to India. Armed civil defense men pose for a photo while patrolling an empty street due to curfew in Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 27, 2022 (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) man killed defending Ukrainian city from Russian forces, family says", "Guerre en Ukraine. . She added that anyone who has gone to fight who commits war crimes will likewise face punishment. Regrouping veterans from Canada, United Kingdom, United States, Denmark, Norway, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, France, South Africa and Poland. Apply to the Embassy of Ukraine in your country with the intention to join the International Legion of Defence of Ukraine (ask a Defence attache or Consul. [225], Vivian Balakrishnan, Singaporean Minister of Foreign Affairs, said during a Parliament session on 22 February that Singaporeans must only fight for Singaporean national security interests and not fight in other places even for noble reasons. These persons also would not face criminal prosecution. [238] The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency is in the process of adding his name to a no-fly list. Later that evening, Ukraine's Minster of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, tweeted that Ukraine had officially formed the International Legion of [the] Territorial Defense of Ukraine. [210], New Zealand officially has a "do not travel" warning issued for Ukraine and the Ukrainian consul in Auckland, Oleksandr Kirichuk, says he cannot assist New Zealanders in travelling to Ukraine. She added that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's idea was not new since France already had a foreign legion. This is not applicable if the State of Israel has an agreement with the foreign country in question. [218], A Peruvian former soldier discharged from the Peruvian army, Csar Eduardo Prez Farfn, is reported to have traveled to Ukraine to join the International legion. The Embassy of Ukraine in Brazil said that "it is not enlisting for the Ukrainian Foreign Legion" or "campaigning to join this military formation". Oct 6, 2022. [257], Turkey does not have a law that bars foreign fighters, but frequently prosecutes them upon return to Turkey for violating criminal or anti-terror laws. Should anyone go fight on the Russian side, she added, then that is a punishable offense. Andrew Peters, 28, was serving as a member of . It is illegal for Indian citizens to enlist in the International Legion under Indian law. 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. [37], In late February 2022, The Star reported that two Malaysians joined the Territorial Defense Army in Kyiv. However, it is legal for Thai citizens to enlist under Thai law. Any Spaniard who is neither a soldier nor a member of the. [243], On 22 March, a Taiwanese Amis volunteer named Wang Jui-ti traveled to Helsinki to hand his application to join the Legion. [129], In early March 2022, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen urged Cambodians not to travel to Ukraine and fight with Ukrainians in the legion. The Latest in a Long Line: Ukraine's International Legion and a History of Foreign Fighters. Already many veterans are asking how to join the effort and what steps to take. This regiment is separate from the regular international legion, but recruits from the force. [74], Over 500 Indians from across the country, including some veterans have submitted applications volunteering to join the International Legion created to fight Russian forces in Ukraine. However, there is no way to determine the exact number of casualties due to the fog of war. [148], It's reported that 600 Czechs have joined the legion as volunteers. People were asked not to bring their own weapons to Ukraine. [134], Since early March 2022 there have been reports of volunteers trying to join the International Legion in Ukraine. The justice minister did note, however, that rules exist according to which if someone joins another country's military to fight, then they should inform the state and be granted specific permission to do so. It is illegal for Uzbek citizens to enlist in the International Legion. 02.Sep.2022 9:00 AM . [208], The first official Dutch casualty of the war perished on May 4, 2022. [260] The statement was also criticized by several politicians who said volunteers may be in violation of the Foreign Enlistment Act 1870. "[131] The government had announced that it is up to individual Canadians to decide whether they want to join and that they "respect personal choices",[131][132] though the government "is not facilitating" Canadians who are looking to join the International Legion. 7 steps. [220], The Government of Ukraine stated on 4 March 2022 that "some Portuguese" were already fighting in the International Legion of Territorial Defence. [163], On 28 February 50 Georgian volunteers arrived in Ukraine. ], On 9 March 2022, the National Post reported that an anonymous representative of the International Legion of Territorial Defence of Ukraine had confirmed 550 Canadians were currently in the Canadian Ukrainian Brigade fighting in Ukraine. [131] Due to a high number of Canadian volunteers, a separate Canadian battalion within the Legion, the Canadian Ukrainian Brigade, was established to avoid language barriers and logistics issues. 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. [116][117] Concerns were raised about the personal backgrounds and political profile of some of the Belgian volunteers. RUSSIA . [1], Recruits with past military experience have described the legion as insufficiently officered, leading to unnecessary casualties. [120], As of 6 March, about 500 Brazilians are mobilizing on WhatsApp, Telegram and social networks groups to enlist. [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. Pursuant to the new laws, joining the armed forces of a foreign state committing an act of aggression or any other armed unit participating in an act of aggression committed by a foreign state, participation in the commission of or preparing an act of aggression by a foreign state as well as knowingly and directly, including financially supporting an act of aggression by a foreign state is punishable as a criminal offence. They are commonly referred to as Ukrainian . According to the Ukrainian embassy's national coordinator for the International Legion, Gert Snitselaar, 40 volunteers have departed the Netherlands for Ukraine. [37] The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the identity and background of a Belgian and Finnish volunteer through video interviews on their Twitter. Step 3. The Turkish authorities have not commented on Turkish citizens joining the war in Ukraine. Four more soldiers were wounded. Published March 1, 2022 9:02 a.m. PST. [55] It has been reported that an unknown number of Nigerians wish to join the legion in Ukraine. [192][193] On November 7, Asahi Shimbun interviewed an anonymous Japanese volunteer who joined the legion with minimal military experience. [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. [33], Kacper Rkawek, a researcher on foreign fighters in Ukraine, stressed the large number of volunteers announced by Ukraine were "people who applied, who got in touch with the Ukrainian Embassy" and not necessarily the number of foreign fighters in Ukraine. On the fourth day after Russia's February 24 armed attack and invasion of Ukraine, President Zelensky made a call for foreigners wishing to defend Ukraine to join the International Legion of Territorial Defense (ILTG), inviting individuals to contact foreign diplomatic missions of Ukraine in their respective countries (you could sign up here). The fightforua.org website has been launched in Ukraine, which contains all the necessary information for foreign citizens who are ready to defend the security of Europe and join the International Defense Legion of Ukraine.. "[105], As of 28 December 2022, four Australian volunteers were killed in Ukraine. It is illegal for Swiss citizens to enlist in the International Legion under Swiss law. [59], As of July 2022, an ex-Sri Lankan commando known as Dentist has been deployed to the field in Kharkiv. Scott Sibley was killed on April 22, 2022, during fighting in Mykolaiv from mortar bombardment[270] while 19-year-old Jordan Gatley was killed in fighting against Russian troops in Severodonetsk alongside Ukrainian troops. [215], On 7 March 2022, Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared that Nigerian citizens are not allowed to serve as mercenaries or foreign volunteers for Ukraine. Long commitments were the norm during the Spanish Civil War for the International Brigades (See Orwell, Homage to Catalonia). Unofficially part of Ukrainian Foreign Legion. "[19], Many commentators have compared the International Legion to the International Brigades of the Spanish Civil War,[20][21][22] which comprised foreign volunteers who supported the Second Spanish Republic against the Nationalist faction led by fascist general Francisco Franco that sought to overthrow the Republic. [40] In early March, it claimed that it has recruited at least 600 people. "We don't need any more people without military experience. [145], The Embassy of Ukraine in Havana attempted to recruit for the International Legion in March 2022. Together we defeated Hitler, and we will defeat Putin, too. The ministry is highly limited in its ability to assist Finns in the war zone," ministry representatives told Yle in an email. "The Foreign Ministry's travel bulletin recommends leaving Ukraine immediately. [268], In September 2022, five British nationals, including two who were sentenced to death, were freed from Russian captivity in a prisoner swap with Ukrainian forces. Most were veterans of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), and were primarily of Ukrainian, Russian, or other former USSR roots, but not exclusively so, with recruits of Druze Israeli and American-Israeli backgrounds also noted. [53], The group has been successful in carrying out several attacks behind enemy lines. [114] Among those who had made contact with the Ukrainian Embassy were said to be Italian, French, Moroccan, and Luxembourg nationals. [254][255] His Japanese friend Dobure (Japanese: ) in lament also died in action on 9 November. [186][187], On September 20, 2022, Benjamin Giorgio Galli, an Italian volunteer was killed in combat against Russian troops. It is illegal for citizens of the United Kingdom to enlist in the International Legion under British law. [278], The first photo distributed by Ukraine of the International Legion reportedly showed American volunteers. Sebastiaan Faber of Oberlin College in the US argued that depicting the Legion as part of a war between fascism and anti-fascism risks playing "into the Kremlin's narrative, which seeks to portray the "special military operation" as an effort to "denazify" its western neighbor." Mostly Chechen, many of whom fought in the, The battalion was created in honor of one of the leaders of the. [272] Ex-Army reservist and dual Ukrainian-British national Viktor Yatsunyk was killed by a landmine in Izium. Undated video published by 3rd Assault showed AFU tanks moving to attack and RF-held buildings under heavy autocannon fire from infantry combat vehicles. However the Ukrainian embassy in Bangkok did not confirm how many had successfully volunteered for the International Legion. Some volunteers cited Ukraine's quickness to recognize Croatia's independence in 1991 as a causus belli to join Ukraine. [245] However, he was advised by Ukrainian embassy staff in Vilnus, Lithuania to instead help the refugees in Poland. [211], The New Zealand Herald reported on an ex-British Army/New Zealand Army veteran (and PR citizen) recruited to the legion, though the unnamed veteran said that he will use his British passport to travel. The Defense Ministry said on March 5 that more than 66,000 men had returned from abroad to join the fight. [273] Simon Lingard died of shrapnel wounds after his unit came under attack from Russian forces. Prompted by Russias attack against Ukraine Penal Codes have been amended to ensure an appropriate punishment for any person who takes part in aggression. [204], In the Ukrainian capital, a Venezuelan man and his wife joined the International Legion to fight for the country after the Russian invasion. [237] Rhee mentioned that he's willing to be investigated by the police over his presence in Ukraine and has politely turned down Ukrainian nationality. This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 21:11. comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A Add a Comment . "[189], As of 2 March 2022, 70 Japanese men have applied to be volunteers of the volunteer foreign legion. Nana was reportedly injured in the city of Bakhmu during a tank siege. 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Yes, I think that is a long-term commitment is the probable. [296] As many as 1,000 foreign fighters had been training at the base as part of the Ukrainian Foreign Legion. American law prohibits "a group organized as a military expedition from departing from the United States to take action as a military force against a nation with whom the United States is at peace", but does not "prevent individuals from leaving the United States to fight for a cause in which they believed.". Algeria discourages its citizens from enlisting. [227] Various news sources claim a well-known South Korean Navy SEAL team is already in Ukraine fighting, which includes YouTube/TV celebrity Ken Rhee.