Americans are standing behind Ukraine, the newly-independent and newly-democratic nation fighting to keep from being overtaken by Russian forces and compelled to submit to Russian rule. The smaller country defending itself against the much larger, wealthier, and more powerful country is at a number of disadvantages, so a group of trained military veterans from the United States and Great Britain are ready to join the fight.
NEW: A group of 10 special operations forces veterans are staging in Poland and preparing to cross into Ukraine, where they plan to take up Zelensky on his offer to join a new foreign military unit, according to a US Army veteran arranging their passage. https://t.co/sArf6LE2QT
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 27, 2022
On Sunday, President Zelenskyy of Ukraine announced a decree forming a special military group that will be known as the International Legion of the Territorial Defense of Ukraine. Men and women from all corners of the world who wish to aid Ukraine in their fight to remain an independent country are invited to join.
According to Buzzfeed News:
‘The group, composed of six US citizens, three Brits, and a German, are NATO-trained and experienced in close combat and counterterrorism…two former American infantry officers are also making plans to come to Ukraine to provide “leadership” for the group, the Army veteran recruiter said.’
"Is there a chance there will be U.S. men and women on the front line fighting and perhaps dying in this war?" —@williegeist
"No sir. President Biden was very, very clear…there will not be American troops fighting inside Ukraine." —@PentagonPresSec John Kirby pic.twitter.com/gNPRwEKUz5
— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) February 21, 2022
As Russian President Vladimir Putin makes grave threats, including the threat of nuclear war – Putin said that, should any Western nation come to the aid of Ukraine, the world would face “consequences greater than any you have faced in history” – Zelensky urged fighters to join.
Announcing the creation of the new unit, President Zelenskyy said that:
‘This is the beginning of a war against Europe, against European structures, against democracy, against basic human rights, against a global order of law, rules, and peaceful coexistence. Anyone who wants to join the defense of Ukraine, Europe, and the world can come and fight side by side with the Ukrainians against the Russian war criminals.’
Today, in close coordination with our Allies and partners, I am announcing the first tranche of sanctions to impose costs on Russia in response to yesterday’s actions.
We will continue to escalate sanctions as Russia escalates.
— President Biden (@POTUS) February 22, 2022
Fighters had already begun to flock to Ukraine prior to the announcement of the new special force in Ukraine. Soldiers from the United States, Great Britain, and even Russia and some other former countries of the U.S.S.R.
‘Thousands of foreign fighters have flocked to Ukraine since Russia’s war against the country began in 2014. While most of them have been Russians and citizens of other former Soviet republics, hundreds have come from the European Union, roughly 40 have arrived from the US, and at least 12 from the UK, according to BuzzFeed News’ reporting and independent research done by experts who track such fighters.’
The concept of American mercenaries fighting in the Ukraine against Russia is being sprinkled in the Putin media. This guy appeared in the Ukraine and magically bumped into a RT journalist Murad Gazdiev
https://t.co/I0zxFt5KwB— Robert Young Pelton (@RYP__) February 23, 2022
