Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wants build an “International Legion” of foreign volunteers for fight Russia. The Germans are certainly among those whom Russia mocks by calling them “mercenaries” – but no one really knows how There are many.
The war has caught up with Siegfried one the day before son planned departure from Ukraine.
Explosions woke him up, he said by telephone from Kyiv some two weeks later. “It was clear when the war had started,” he said.
German, who does not have want for give his full name, remained and joined the Ukrainian Volunteer Army, the so-called Territorial defense. As for son motive, he said, “I thought it was too loose and too stupid to run far from it fight.”
Now, in in his early forties, he is head of peloton, did he declare. Under his command are about 30 people in a unit preparing to defend the Ukrainian capital as reinforcements for the armed forces.
All they got is simple guns like Kalashnikov assault rifles, but they desperately need vests protection, vehicles and night vision equipment – and more weapons in he generally insisted.
Like a young man he did son military service with German paratroopers. He is also a qualified technician and worked as a truck driver in Canada, explained Siegfried. From 2015 – after annexation of Crimea and because of the dispute in the Donbass region – he joined Ukrainian forces for several years.
Now he has joined in a different capacity. “The only answer that will prevent the Russian army from transporting out new attacks is a military defeat,” he said.
According to Ukrainian government circles, several hundred German citizens traveled to Ukraine to fight the Russian army.
Ukrainian media is in turmoil with estimates on how lots of foreigners in total have signed up for a so-called “International Legion”.
Some figures quoted of more over 20,000 volunteers from 52 countries although these cannot be verified.
Deputy Interior Minister Yevheniy Yenin did not want for give hard numbers on Ukrainian television this week, saying only that “their number is increasing”.
Border and migration authorities organize entry into Ukraine, then volunteers are handed over over at the Ministry of Defence.
“They receive a corresponding document and receive a military ID cardwhich replaces the residence permit,” Yenin explained.
In the future they will be able to apply for Ukrainian citizenship.
However, they are not mercenaries, the Ukrainian armed forces strive to explain.
“They are volunteers, there is no salary,” said government says the source. “They should not be accused of combat for money,” this added.
borderless controls with next to countries like Poland, German officials say they also cannot estimate the numbers and have only known right-wing extremists on their radar. Three of these people have traveled to Ukraine, according to sources from Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa).
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made a great OK of the International Legion.
“They come to defend freedom, life. For us, for all of us,” he announced. Help is requested on internet and social media addressing “all heroes of the free world.”
Russia did not hesitate to threaten these foreign fighters.
“All the mercenaries sent by the West to help the nationalist Kyiv scheme … are not entitled to status of prisoners of war,” Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said, according to Interfax. news agency.
Russia “will hold them criminally responsible if apprehended.”
From Germany’s point of view of viewUkrainian citizens living in Germany can go to their home country without penalty in order to participate in the conflict there. This also applies to dual German-Ukrainian nationals, although they may in theoretically lose their German nationality.
The case is different if the volunteers only have German nationality. If anyone of this group to take part in combat operations, international humanitarian law is the key benchmark for possible criminal responsibility, a spokesperson for explained the Ministry of Justice.
“If an act of killing Where injury is authorized under international law, then it is not punishable under German criminal law,” the spokesperson said.
Nevertheless, you won’t find anyone talk openly about recruiting in Berlin.
Section 109h of the German Penal Code states that “whoever recruits a German for earnings of a stranger power for military service in a military Where military-like institution or provides it to its recruiters or to the military service of such an institution should be punished with imprisonment from three months to five years. »
Even attempting to do so is a crime.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wants build an “International Legion” of foreign volunteers for fight Russia. The Germans are certainly among those whom Russia mocks by calling them “mercenaries” – but no one really knows how There are many.
The war has caught up with Siegfried one the day before son planned departure from Ukraine.
Explosions woke him up, he said by telephone from Kyiv some two weeks later. “It was clear when the war had started,” he said.
German, who does not have want for give his full name, remained and joined the Ukrainian Volunteer Army, the so-called Territorial defense. As for son motive, he said, “I thought it was too loose and too stupid to run far from it fight.”
Now, in in his early forties, he is head of peloton, did he declare. Under his command are about 30 people in a unit preparing to defend the Ukrainian capital as reinforcements for the armed forces.
All they got is simple guns like Kalashnikov assault rifles, but they desperately need vests protection, vehicles and night vision equipment – and more weapons in he generally insisted.
Like a young man he did son military service with German paratroopers. He is also a qualified technician and worked as a truck driver in Canada, explained Siegfried. From 2015 – after annexation of Crimea and because of the dispute in the Donbass region – he joined Ukrainian forces for several years.
Now he has joined in a different capacity. “The only answer that will prevent the Russian army from transporting out new attacks is a military defeat,” he said.
According to Ukrainian government circles, several hundred German citizens traveled to Ukraine to fight the Russian army.
Ukrainian media is in turmoil with estimates on how lots of foreigners in total have signed up for a so-called “International Legion”.
Some figures quoted of more over 20,000 volunteers from 52 countries although these cannot be verified.
Deputy Interior Minister Yevheniy Yenin did not want for give hard numbers on Ukrainian television this week, saying only that “their number is increasing”.
Border and migration authorities organize entry into Ukraine, then volunteers are handed over over at the Ministry of Defence.
“They receive a corresponding document and receive a military ID cardwhich replaces the residence permit,” Yenin explained.
In the future they will be able to apply for Ukrainian citizenship.
However, they are not mercenaries, the Ukrainian armed forces strive to explain.
“They are volunteers, there is no salary,” said government says the source. “They should not be accused of combat for money,” this added.
borderless controls with next to countries like Poland, German officials say they also cannot estimate the numbers and have only known right-wing extremists on their radar. Three of these people have traveled to Ukraine, according to sources from Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa).
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made a great OK of the International Legion.
“They come to defend freedom, life. For us, for all of us,” he announced. Help is requested on internet and social media addressing “all heroes of the free world.”
Russia did not hesitate to threaten these foreign fighters.
“All the mercenaries sent by the West to help the nationalist Kyiv scheme … are not entitled to status of prisoners of war,” Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said, according to Interfax. news agency.
Russia “will hold them criminally responsible if apprehended.”
From Germany’s point of view of viewUkrainian citizens living in Germany can go to their home country without penalty in order to participate in the conflict there. This also applies to dual German-Ukrainian nationals, although they may in theoretically lose their German nationality.
The case is different if the volunteers only have German nationality. If anyone of this group to take part in combat operations, international humanitarian law is the key benchmark for possible criminal responsibility, a spokesperson for explained the Ministry of Justice.
“If an act of killing Where injury is authorized under international law, then it is not punishable under German criminal law,” the spokesperson said.
Nevertheless, you won’t find anyone talk openly about recruiting in Berlin.
Section 109h of the German Penal Code states that “whoever recruits a German for earnings of a stranger power for military service in a military Where military-like institution or provides it to its recruiters or to the military service of such an institution should be punished with imprisonment from three months to five years. »
Even attempting to do so is a crime.