International Legion of Territorial Defence of Ukraine, the official channel for foreign fighters, will only consider recruits with combat experience.
The Ukrainian military is now urging those without military experience to stay at home.“Our main priority is combat experience and all of them have to understand their role and place,” Anton Myronovych, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Armed Forces, tells Global News.“We don’t need mercenaries who think they may make some money or something like that.”This phenomenon has also raised questions about what will happen when these people return home.For Canadian foreign fighters, in particular, Veteran Affairs has said it bears no responsibility for physical or psychological injuries acquired by anyone, since Global Affairs has advised against travel to Ukraine.On February 27, three days after Russia launched its invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a call for foreign volunteers to help fight for his country’s freedom — an international legion that would operate as part of Ukraine’s military.The next day, he signed a decree waiving visas for any foreigners who wished to join the fight and launched a website outlining how to apply to the newly created International Legion.In the month since, thousands of foreigners have applied to be part of the group.
Many, however, have failed.Bryson Woolsey, from Powell River, B.C., spoke in early March of his plans to quit his job as a cook to travel to Ukraine, despite having no military experience.Several days later, Woolsey posted on Facebook saying he was denied by the Legion due to lack of experience and said he lacked the financial means to help in other ways suggested to him.