Russia-Ukraine war: International fighters arrive to fight for Ukraine

International fighters have begun arriving in Ukraine to be part of the new Foreign Legion that will defend the country against Russian invaders.

Servicemen of the Ukrainian Military Forces wait out the shelling in a shelter on a position in the Lugansk region. Picture: Anatolii Stepanov / AFP

International fighters have begun arriving in Ukraine to be part of the new Foreign Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine.

Most of the fighters have arrived in Lviv in Ukraine’s west, via the Polish border, including many British and Scottish troops kitted out in full combat gear.

The former soldiers declined to comment about their presence.

The men, who applied through the Ukrainian embassy in their home country, had to have proof of prior military experience.

They will be part of their own “foreign” brigade attached to the Ukrainian Territorial Defence Force (TDF), an Army Reserve style force.

“Upon arrival in Ukraine at the collection point to join the Foreign Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine, sign the contract and together with fighters from other countries and Ukrainian soldiers go to fight against the Russian occupiers,” the foreign recruitment announcement declare.

Russia has already said any foreigner caught on the battlefield would be considered a mercenary and shot dead. They would not be afforded any war prisoner status.

Servicemen of the Ukrainian Military Forces prepare their equipment to repel a tank attack on a position in the Lugansk region. Picture: Anatolii Stepanov / AFP

They are to be backed by more than 66,000 Ukrainians, many dual nationals, who have since the Russian invasion last week returned from overseas to help their ancestral home.

“That’s how many men returned from abroad at this moment to defend their country from the horde. These are 12 more combat and motivated brigades! Ukrainians, we are invincible,” the country’s defence minister Oleksii Reznikov said.

Combat gear is in critical short supply in Ukraine at the moment, so the fact the troops brought their own was a bonus, he said.

A formal recruitment website opened yesterday and had already received 1000 expressions of interest.

Former Australian Defence Force members had initially expressed interest in joining the international brigades however the Federal Government declared the act would constitute an offence.

Originally published as Russia-Ukraine war: International fighters arrive to fight for Ukraine