This article was originally published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and is reprinted with permission.
Ukraine’s government has started a website to recruit foreign volunteers to an “international legion” to fight invading Russian troops, following repeated calls by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for outsiders to join in his country’s defense.
His office announced the website’s launch on March 5 and said, “foreigners who want to help Ukraine can find a detailed, step-by-step instruction on the website on how to join the just fight with the aggressor.”
It suggested that people contact the Ukrainian Embassy in their respective countries.
Such participation in foreign conflicts is banned in many countries.
The UN Mercenary Convention of 2001 also prohibits the recruitment, use, financing, and training of mercenaries.
The Ukrainian recruitment website says contracts with the government can be signed on arrival in Ukraine.
Zelenskiy has said several times that Ukraine welcomes foreigners who want to join Ukrainian forces fighting Russian troops since their invasion began on February 24.
He signed a decree introducing visa-free entrance to Ukraine for foreign volunteers that came into effect on March 1.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on March 2 that more than 1,000 foreigners had expressed their willingness to join the Ukrainian Army.
The Defense Ministry said on March 5 that more than 66,000 men had returned from abroad to join the fight.
Ukrainian authorities have banned men between the ages of 18 and 60 from leaving the country.
