Why some foreign fighters – including Canadians – quit plans to battle for Ukraine – The Globe and Mail
Foreign fighters flocking to war zones are nothing new, but they usually operate in an informal capacity, or as mercenaries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took the unusual step of actively recruiting foreigners by calling on citizens of the world to join the battle against the Russians. He created the international legion as a special branch of Ukraine s Territorial Defence Force, a largely civilian operation, and his government has estimated that about 20,000 people from more than 50 countries have signed up.
While it s hard to verify the numbers, there s little doubt that thousands of eager warriors from Canada and elsewhere have joined the Ukrainian cause and provided crucial support on the battlefield. But some foreign fighters have found the experience unexpectedly frightening and dangerous.
Unexpectedly?