The foreign volunteers joining Ukraine’s fight against Russia

Asked whether he had any military training, he replied: “Absolutely not.”

Downing Street divided

Foreign governments including those of Latvia and Denmark have backed Ukraine’s appeal for foreign support. The Ukrainian Embassy in Israel began “actively recruiting” people over the weekend, The Times of Israel reported. 

But Downing Street doesn’t appear to have worked out where the UK government stands on the issue. Speaking on BBC’s Sunday Morning programme, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said she would “absolutely” support UK citizens who answered Zelenskyy’s call. “The people of Ukraine are fighting for freedom and democracy, not just for Ukraine but for the whole of Europe,” Truss told presenter Sophie Raworth. 

However, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace subsequently told Radio 4’s Today programme that any would-be fighters should “be trained [and] have experience” because the situation is “dangerous”. 

Tobias Ellwood, the Conservative chair of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee, also called for caution. “Please do NOT go if you have no combat experience,” Ellwood tweeted. “You may get yourself, and others who have to look after you, killed.”

Boris Johnson’s spokesperson told reporters on Monday that while “we fully recognise the strength of feeling about British people wanting to support the Ukrainians” following the Russian invasion, “we currently advise against travelling to Ukraine.”

The British Army has forbidden soldiers and reservists from joining the conflict. But according to The Times, an unnamed brigadier “said that he heard talk that some soldiers were considering going Awol to join the fighting against Russia”.

Legal implications

Brits who volunteer to join the war in Ukraine may face potential legal issues.

Under the Foreign Enlistment Act of 1870, it is a crime for any British citizen to fight alongside the military of a foreign power in a war with a country with which Britain is at peace. But, as The Washington Post pointed out, “the law hasn’t been used for a century, including during the Spanish Civil War”. 

Jonathan Hall QC, the UK’s Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, told The Independent that although fighting in Ukraine could fall under the UK’s definition of terrorism, “prosecution of foreign fighters against Russia” appeared to be a “non-starter”, given the “government’s apparent support” of Ukraine.

Current foreign travel advice on the Gov.uk website states: “If you travel to eastern Ukraine to fight, or to assist others engaged in the conflict, your activities may amount to offences against UK terrorism or other legislation and you could be prosecuted on your return to the UK.”

Article source: https://www.theweek.co.uk/news/world-news/russia/955940/foreigners-travelling-ukraine-fight-russia-invasion