How one Ukrainian regiment integrates foreign volunteers
2nd National Guard Corps 'Khartiya'
When absorbing foreign nationals volunteering
to fight in the Ukrainian military, training is most effective when delivered
by other foreigners, an officer with Ukraine’s 2nd National Guard
Corps told NV Radio on June 17.
“There are volunteers who come on their own, combatants, people from Switzerland, Colombia, Argentina, Panama, Peru, Chile, Brazil, France, the UK, and the United States,” the officer, identified by the callsign “Monakh,” said.
“There’s even a serviceman from Zimbabwe. There are recruits who, through acquaintances, call us and apply.”
Monakh said if foreigners who want to serve with his regiment, Khartiya, cannot travel on their own, the corps buys their plane ticket and meets them with its transport. They then undergo a military medical examination.
“They sign a contract on the same terms as Ukrainians, and after that we train them in the unit,” he said.
“Nearly all the instructors who train new foreigners are also foreign servicemen who already have combat experience and who have conducted assault operations. They have the skills of commanders and instructors. In practice, when foreigners are trained by foreigners, the training goes better and faster, and there is no language barrier. You may teach a dozen foreign sergeants with difficulty once, but then they go on to train the soldiers.”
Monakh confirmed that many combatants come from Colombia and
said many come not only for pay but to gain experience.
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