There are also several battalions of Belarusian and Russian citizens fighting for Ukraine, as well as dozens of foreign fighters in other units of the Ukrainian armed forces. Citizens of 55 countries joined the war on Ukraine’s side, according to International Legion spokesman Damien Magrou.
There have been problems with the legal status of foreign fighters. Some, like Russians and Belarusians, faced persecution at home. However, the Ukrainian government has reported clearing obstacles to permitting foreigners to fight. In January, Ukraine’s parliament simplified the procedure of granting Ukrainian citizenship to foreigners who fought in different units of the Ukrainian armed forces.
Russia has been also actively recruiting from abroad for its attack on Ukraine. The Kremlin has recruited up to 15,000 residents of Nepal to fight in Ukraine, according to a recent report by CNN. Citizens of Sierra Leone, Cuba and Syria also joined the invasion of Ukraine.
As a new wave of mobilization looms, Ukraine is desperate for more soldiers to replenish the military losses and allow the exhausted front-line troops to recuperate.
