A big thanks to Ridge Wallet for sponsoring the animation work in today’s video. Here’s their site if you want to check them out ridge.com/taskandpurpose

I voluntarily served in Ukraine and originally was to join the International Legion. After a few days with them, seeing how much of a total gong show the unit was, me and several others left. I then linked up with a volunteer medical battalion under the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence called the Hospitallers. As a medic and rescue tech for industry back home, and former soldier, the Hospitallers were happy to have me, and they treated me quite well. The long and the short of it, the International Legion is decent if you have combat experience and are up to date on combat operations. But unless you can prove yourself to them immediately, it’s probably not a good option. There are other programs in Ukraine accepting international volunteers, but from my knowledge the Hospitallers are among the best. Just make sure you are completely up to date with TCCC & weapons handling, otherwise you will be relegated as a driver: a position they already have a healthy surplus of.

I've met foreign legionnaires during Kharkiv offensive near city of Balakliya. Most of them were from Scotland and Ireland. I noticed that their training level and fighting skills much further than ours (national guard of Ukraine). They helped us as we trapped in minefields , gave my wounded brothers-in-arms medical care they needed , disarmed a lot of OZM-72 antipersonnel mines to clear safe path. Legionnaires are people of courage and honour, I respect and proud that they fight side by side with us against russia. Excuse me for bad English

Colombian volunteers poured in from the beginning. My brother has been fighting since the war started he is former Colombian Special Forces 🇨🇴 God bless all 🙏

I read from an American volunteer that he got redemption for the war in Iraq, where he was seen and called an "invader". He helped liberate towns in Ukraine and was proud to be called a liberator and was thanked by the civilians.

Just want to address some things as an ex-Foreign Legion member operating under GUR. 1. The legion gets bad equipment - No. the legion gets better equipment than the Ukrainians most of the time. It’s just not handed out to every unit. There are units who have been proven in combat, they get everything they ask for. When I left I had a suppressor, laser, high rise mounted optic, and $7000 pair of RNVGs with dual peltor comtacs and an AMP mount, baofengs, Motorolas, and ATAK phones. We had any equipment we asked for within a month or two. 2. We get sent on suicide missions. - No. Ukraine is not America, they do not have the capacity to support an operation like America does. When we went out, we had no medical support because there was no medical support. There were no aircraft, the QRF was a unit on the frontline that just took casualties from a shelling, and they had no one to come get us - most of the time. We were the best trained soldiers in that battle space, and Ukraine employed us as such. The missions were dangerous, but we accomplished them nonetheless despite rampant desertions from a lot of other foreigners, US included. It was a real war, not like the last decade of Iraq or Afghanistan. TLDR: Foreigners get good equipment and are not sent on suicide missions.

“The reason transnational volunteers sign up to fight against Russia often is because their ideological beliefs within their own state failed them. Many American Iraq and Afghanistan veterans feel that the fight in Ukraine was what they wished they were fighting for in the global war on terror.” Just casually dropping some weapons-grade truth here.

I am helping a battalion and another unit of the Legioners. At this point they’re supplied with everything, and I help them with some specific and urgent requests + financing cars repairs. I know the commander of this battalion, he’s an experienced, good and very careful guy. He cares about each one of his boys. Just saying. We are deeply grateful to each and every foreign volunteer.

Yugoslavs that fought in Spanish civil war then had huge combat experience during ww2 and they were the only resistance force that liberated its own country. These guys were pretty badass once the war started

I remember watching some Russian POW being interviewed by Ukrainian journalists, and many of them said that “they were captured by foreign mercenaries”. When the journalists explained that those people were not “mercenaries” (for whom Ukraine simply doesn’t have the money) but international volunteers, the POWs were dumbfounded as to why so many people from India, America or Western Europe would leave the safety of their usually rich countries, in order to risk their lives for Ukraine’s survival! They really couldn’t even conceive that, when you invade a far smaller country to literally CONQUER it, people around the world don’t see you as “the good guys”…

Lindybeige recently interviewed a British foreign fighter who was at the Yavoriv base when it was bombed for those interested. He also covers some other topics about the foreign volunteers in Ukraine in a series of interviews.

Cappy my grandfather fought against Franco in the Spanish civil war too. He had some crazy experiences in that war and it shaped the lives of that whole side of my family as my grandmother was sent away from Spain as a child at the outbreak of the war to Mexico. Once Franco won my grandfather eventually made his way to Mexico to escape persecution under Franco’s regime.

In Ireland our laws concerning fighting in foreign armies are extremely loose, in that they don't exist. As long as you are not part of an organisation declared illegal in Ireland like ISIS or Al-Qaeda you can join freely with no restrictions. Foreign armies can't actively recruit in Ireland but people frequently travel abroad to join the military, most notably in the British army where there are thousands of Irish citizens, as well as the US military and French Foreign Legion. Also with your mention of the Spanish civil war about a thousand Irish citizens fought in the war, most of them fought for Franco as part of the Irish brigade. We have a long history of the "Wild Geese", a nickname for Irishmen travelling abroad to fight in foreign armies that has existed since the Crusades and continues to this day. So even though it is not on any lists concerning the legality of foreigners joining the Ukrainian military, lads joining the Ukrainian army is perfectly legal in Ireland and a good few have gone.

my buddy fought for ukraine last year from march til august and was treated great, once they knew he was a former marine sniper he was given the best they could get for him because they knew what the had and he proved his worth. He went there because he doesnt like Russia or what they stand for and still says they are the worst trained troops hes ever fought and has fought in iraq and afghanistan. Still insists in a conventional war the us could defeat Russia in under 2 weeks as well given what hes seen as far as russian military in ukraine

These are older issues highlighted by the Kyiv Independent and I hope the government addressed them. Even Poland is seeking their citizen for crimes committed in Poland. As anti-corruption goes, this highlights that you as an individual should speak out if you see an incompetent commander, so these issues are fixed or join a unit that works like the Georgian Legion.

I have a classmate from college who served in the 🇳🇿 New Zealand Army from 2011 to 2017, was deployed to 🇹🇱 East Timor and 🇦🇫 Afghanistan during his time in the NZ Army and later travelled to Europe to fight in Ukraine last year in 2022. When he returned home back in January, we asked why he opted to go to 🇺🇦 Ukraine in the first place. Apparently he opted to fight in Ukraine because he didn't have much for him here at home. According to him he had trouble holding a job, kept going on & off the benefit (welfare), had a bit of a drinking problem, his fiancee left him whilst he was deployed to East Timor and just didn't quite fit in with society after his time in the army.

Met in person Mexican's, Spain's, Americans in the battle for Severodonetsk,june 22.Thank you,people of dignity😊

I tried joining the Ukrainian foreign legion a bit after the war started ( March 5th) but I never got to Ukraine. I ended up changing my mind half way there and went back. Seeing as I have no military training whatsoever I would probably just have been a burden for the Ukrainians but I still feel like a bit of a coward for not going all the way. At least Poland was nice.

I think there's another very relevant aspect to foreign fighters leaving. The war is now more than a year old. I don't think we can judge foreign fighters for deciding they've done enough for someone else's country.

My experience in the wars in the former Yugoslavia was that foreign volunteers were mostly guys trying to escape from their wives or else from a tedious, meaningless life. A lot of Brits who were on the dole were volunteers. They were guys trying to prove to themselves that they weren't cowards. A motley bunch for sure.

I served with the international legion but was wounded during the attack in Yavoriv on March 13 2022. I have a lot of insight on to what happened, and how the legion operates as a whole (from my experience).

we have some guys from Argentina fighting for Ukraine over there, glory to Ukraine and glory to the legion and foreign fighters

That is really heart breaking to hear Afghan soldiers are joining up with Russia because they felt abandoned by the US. I mean I totally get it, but it just really really is sad to hear.

It sucks feeling so helpless. I’d be less than useless in combat off on an Xbox and yeah, I’ve emails my senators telling them my whole family is willing to send whatever tax dollars Ukraine needs to defend their country but there isn’t really much I can do. Glory to all the brave soldiers who actually go.

Why ? Some people don't like that a small country has been brutally and mercilessly attacked by a country 20 times its size. But most are descendants of people whom Russia has hurt in the past. Russia has left its merciless mark on virtually every country it borders on. Practically starting from Finland and ending with Korea, people from these countries have suffered numerous brutal and merciless wrongs in just the last 100 years. Deportations, extermination camps, mass executions, NKVD prisons and similar places saw practically all people from countries neighboring Russia

I am happy to see that there are still people from my country who are standing up for what is right. 🇧🇷

Ukrainian civilians gratefull for any help especially militaries from another countries Thank You from heart

the French foreign legion are great at turning together a ragtag of multinational adventurist into a well balanced fighting force.

Holy shit, i did not expect my country flag, Perú, to appear in one of the soldiers chest, 0:19

Curiously I have relatives who have fought on both sides od the spanish civil war. Except that only the one was the volonteer. My grandfather's brother was an actual soldier in the Italian army and died fighting for Franco. What an absurd affair that was.

This was a really well researched piece- the historical context about other conflicts was really helpful to understand the manpower issues. The reportage about the corruption and incompetence of the Ukrainians was covered very diplomatically. Good work Cappy!As always great sense of humor Chris. 🙌🏽

At the time, I worked for the State Department Consular Affairs, and we processed about 6000 new passports for Americans to travel to Ukraine.

As a foreign volunteer in Ukraine, both of those initial numbers look really high unless it's just a survey of people who showed interest

All of these volunteers for the Ukrainian (except the corrupt leadership) military are serious hero's. I commend your bravery.

The KZfaq channel Lindybeige usually covers old historical weapons and arms. But recently he’s had a series of fascinating interviews with a British volunteer in Ukraine’s Foreign Legion. He talks all about his experience arriving in Ukraine during the Russian offensive against Kyiv and the practical aspects of the trench warfare things settled into.

Should of mention Freedom of Russia Legion as one of the Ethnic Russian units working with Ukrainian Foreign Legion. Many of them are not only defectors, but also foreign Russians like me who are against Russian government and their imperial ambitions.

When you need more armour so you put ridge wallet all over the place like explosive reactive armour

In other words "In Syria and Iraq we could play the Rambo part cause the enemy had nothing, but in Ukraine we are facing a real army who actually has real equipment". Nothing like in the movies isn't it.

Surprised the territorial defense didn't even get a mention. Pretty much everyone that didn't want to be a rifleman went through the territorial defense. I went as an artilleryman through them.

Davide Rodogno (2.30 paper author) was my prof in Geneva, Switzerland :) very very very professional, funny and good teacher. What a surprise :) (cheers from Hungary, and Slava Ukraini!!)

Foreign nationals volunteers is a topic worthy of news coverage in this putrid war. Thanks for the vid. Keep on. Tom.

I was so shocked to know about your great-grandfather's sacrifice and therefore, as a spaniard follower of yours, I just wanted to sincerely thank you and your family. Time certainly passes but gratitude remains. (I'm guessing he was probably part of the Lincoln Battalion which iirc reunited most of young brave american fighters).

You do a good job, with great humor, disseminating clear and well researched information. Thanks and keep them coming!

The clip at 10.50ish was a disproven clip used by Russian trolls. It was used in the Czech Republic as part of a movie, but the Russians, not Ukranians as stated, made it out like the Ukranians were using it

It is often doubtful if volunteers provide a positive net gain - in terms of combat effectiveness for resources spent But from a propaganda perspective they're invaluable The importance of boosting morale is no small thing

There was a documentary about a guy who wanted to join the Belgian army but was rejected. When the war broke out the joined the Ukranian national legion. After 1 month training they were send into combat, they were payed 4500$/month plus extra fees. He talked about abuse by drunken leaders and bad intel before going onto missions leading to many deaths and injured. He left after 6 months deeply traumatised. He said the biggest danger are drones, if you are detected you will be hit with artillery or an airstrike.

Per capita the British have sent the most men to help Ukraine. The British never miss an opportunity to fight the Russians in Crimea

"I'm doing my part!" I love that book. And the movie. But on completely different levels.

I think you can easily say that this is far beyond average infantryman. This is advanced professional journalism with integrity.

I fell You.. I'm Danish and My grandmother (on fathers side) lost 2 of her brothers (they were members if they Danish Communist party in the 1930's before the went to Spain to join the ' Internatinal Brigade' to fight against Francos fascists (and the German nazis - who used the Civil War in Spain in the 1930's as a practice run for WW2)... It wasn't until in the 1990 before My family finally found out where the 2 brothers were killed and buried (it was out in the country side får from large cities like Madrid Barcelona etc Maybe that was why it took +50 years before My family found out what happened to them..😢

Respects to your great grandfather in Spain. I see honor runs in the family. Great report, thanks!

Chris, I was so surprised that your great grandfather died in the Spanish Civil War. I'm of Spanish descent as well, and it was the Spanish Civil War that sent us back to the United States. My grandfather came to the US from having lived in Cuba from age 12 to 24, after having gone to Cuba from the northwestern coast of Galicia, Spain. He was a foreman and manager in a hand made cigar factory in Tampa, Florida when mechanized cigar making bankrupted the cigar company where he worked. He returned to the seaside town in Spain for my grandma who was also from there. The fascists established a foothold in the town next door where they took over most of the functions of the elected government by wearing military style uniforms, bullying everyone, doing physical violence, murders and later public executions. Our Spanish-American family was too much of an example of democracy and so they began to harass my family. My family tried to stay neutral, but it didn't work. After my dad was brought into the Falangists office for saying something like "It is not our job as students to get involved in politics. Our job is to work on our studies." I guess this falls in line with the idea if you are not with us you are against us fascist mentality??? This was somehow wrong. Only loyal fascists allowed. Because my dad had helped the Falangists leader's son once, he pretended to beat my dad by whipping his riding boots behind the closed door in his office. That night, as my family thought about what to do, someone shot and killed my dad's dog in front of their house. That night my grandfather gathered the family and made their way to a big city on the coast and booked passage back to America on an ocean liner. My uncle Ernest stayed behind to help the State Department get Spanish-Americans, who were now in trouble from the fascists, out of Spain. The Falangistas ended up going on a rampage killing anyone they thought was a troublemaker. A group of young fascists from the fascists town next door went looking for the star soccer players of my family's town who had kept them from winning a championship TO KILL THEM! They paraded woman accused of being loose naked and chained on a truck bed. ??? My uncle managed to get a few Spaniards who had American ties out with the US consulate in Vigo. My grandfather told my family that even though we were on a ship headed for the free world, to not talk about anything that went on or politics while on the ship. Sure enough the ship made an unscheduled stop in the Canary Islands where those that talked openly against the fascists were taken off the ship. It is hard for us Americans to comprehend what it's like living under fascism/totalitarianism. Let's pray we never do.

Fun fact there’s a special forces unit in the International Ukraine Foreign Legion.

This was very enlightening and a great explanation!

Your self-made commercials for companies advertising on your videos are often comically good, but this time time it was absolutely great, since the transition to the commercial was flawless.

I can confirm it's much better now at recruitment.. Earlier this year, I got interviewed twice by an ex British soldier who'd been at fighter at the beginning of the war, and now works with the Ukrainian embassy, he questioned me about my previous military career, and had me vetted, I then had to confirm I had combat experience and the people who didn't have it or it became clear that they are lying about military service(which a ex soldier can always tell) they get removed from the enlistment process. So definitely miles better now.

Your long form videos pack so much information you must do a lot of research for these, thanks for the dedication, very informative

The Colombian soldiers said they went to Ukraine because Colombia doesn't fight other countries. They only fight people inside their own countries like drug cartels and rebel groups.

Hats off and much honor to the narrator’s family history of his great grandad fighting in the Spanish Civil War: 22 years ago I had the privilege of meeting Milton Wolf, the last commander of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade and joining him on a tour of one of his old battlefields. (And on a side note, more than 200 graduates of Harvard University joined the French Army in one capacity or another during WWI including a certain Alan Seeger, who had a nephew called Paul Seeger)

Probably the first time in ages that I've actually LOVED an ad!! Thanks Cappy!

Bravo! That was and balanced reporting, unlike some major news outlets.

Chris, since you have a connection to the Spanish Civil War, you might enjoy reading "Homage to Catalonia" by George Orwell.

What "foreign volunteers" in the Russian Army beyond a few Serbs? No sign of any of the 20,000 Syrians announced a year ago, or of any Afghans. The Central Asians were already working in Russia and there is little evidence of them, either. There is almost no evidence of genuine "volunteerism" on the Russian side, even from actual Russians.

When it comes to volunteers in the spanish civil war there was finns fighting on both sides and after the war they met each other on the docks in finland that ended in a fist fight

I know 3 🇨🇦friends who went over and didn’t stay long. They felt being foreigners they were seen as disposable and expendable. Thrown into the meat grinder. That’s why Wally the 🇨🇦sniper didn’t stay long. They were not used in the right way. All those above were trained and experienced infantry combat veterans.

Lindybeige did a pretty good interview with one of his lads that went to volunteer. I highly recommend watching it.

Would you consider covering crimes committed against soldiers that don't get much attention and missing, presumed awol, soldiers who are found dead? For example Austin Hawke, Vanessa Guillen, Enrique Roman-Martinez, Richard Halliday, etc. I'm the sister of Richard Halliday who has been missing for almost 3 years and we're still looking for answers.

Another great piece, Cappy !

I think you did fairly well in highlighting both the good and the bad that happens around foreign fighters. The Polish dude with a fake name and a criminal record reminded me how there was a Finnish article similar to the one in Kyiv Independent that raised issues of Ukraine troops' tactical capabilities. If what was told by the one named Finnish volunteer and the two unnamed ones were accurate or not, I wouldn't know, but the named guy turned out to be a crook with massive embezzlement charges.

Foreign volunteer returning from Ukraine said the volunteers with no military experience were often just as good as the guys with lots.

Great show!! Hell, even the sponsor’s advert was well done. Hilarious too. 👊🏼😎

From what I've seen a lot of foriegn volunteers are equipped with very modern and high quality weapons like CZ Bren IIs or brand new M4A1s with ACOGs or Aimpoint CompM4s. Almost all have modern plate carriers and uniforms. This makes sense because a lot of the donated weapons from friendly nations are not in large enough numbers to issue to the Ukrainian army generally and the foreign fighters are more likely familiar with the manual of arms. If the volunteers were the ones being under equipped you'd expect to see more basic AK74s and Soviet style web gear. Instead I've seen the Territorial Defense Forces equipped very lightly, the regular Ukrainian army looking like a solid mix between modern equipment and older weapons, and the foreign legion being equipped like modern soldiers.

Same my grandpa was a volunteer on the Soviet front after the civil war

You are getting better than ever my friend. Very interesting , and informitive, great job.

Minor correction: in 1936 fighters from USSR in Spain weren’t “volunteers”, they were regular Red Army troops. Russian volunteers however were on the other side, on general Franco’s side. Glory to Ukraine, from a russian.

This was an awesome episode! Thank you

Brazilian here, i tried to enlist, went to the embassy but was rejected. I have weapons and some tactics training but im not ex military, that and the president didnt choose a side, so brazilians werent able to go *with permission*. Some went to ukraine anyway

I listen to Dejan berices videos bc I speak the language he’s the Serbian man you interviewed and according to him Russia enlists these volunteers as part of their regular military. They’re offering citizenships to everyone who serves for at least 6 months. They can also move their entire families there after they become citizens. Oh and for people in the medical field let’s say you’re a doctor who just wants to work and live there they’ll give you a free house…and if you decide to stay there for atleast 10 years the house is yours to sell or to do whatever you wish… this is directly from Dejan boric. Very interesting

Your ads are top notch, I find that I’m never fast forwarding through them 😂

OK, not gonna lie, that Ridge Wallet promo bit was actually really well done. 10/10 did not mind watching an ad.

Somehow I doubt those 20,000 on the Russian side are just volunteers

The "Lindebeige," channel has an extended interview with a British legionaire. He was in the Legion from the beginning and has some interesting things to say (the incident with the spy and the sausage was the best bit ) Also, 2:30, I must say, your gran was a real looker.❤

such a family history, chris. it shows how history touches everyone of us in such a way..

7:47 I try to explain this to people all the time, and they just don't get it. A OPFOR that has these capabilities is not something that many people have experience with, and it's likely to demoralize any who assumed that it would be like previous engagements.

You're the only channel that I can actually stomach watching the sponsor advertisements on

TY . Learned a lot 📚👍📚

I respect that you clicked on the Czech republic link in the list of foreign legion units. Greetings from Czech Republic btw

thanks for this informative report, learned many new details I hadn't been aware of

Glad to hear some mention of the spanish civil war, one of the key events in the build up to the second world war which is often vastly over looked.

Insightful points, good vid

Your channel kicks ass. Please don't stop putting out content like ths.

I am too old to take up arms, or engage in heavy lifting volunteer work... But if I was 20 years younger nothing could stop me from volunteering for this fight.

Why are you showing Crimea as a part of Russia? Kinda weird given other territories you show as Ukrainian

I think it's important that volunteers are looked after for any injuries the receive from the conflict and I'm hoping that signing official enlistment documents (as mentioned at 14:05) will ensure this.

Ayyy that short brought me here not going to be shy about it.

Theres a uk channel by a guy called Lindybeige. He does a lot of random stuff from swing dance to military history to role playing games to medieval weaponry and armour. He also has a very interesting set of interviews with a UK volunteer who was over fighting in Ukraine. Well worth a listen.

A topic not often discussed. Great job!

10:50 that guy got out of the body bag and someone came over and put him back lol 😂

This is a certified sundowner moment

Stop painting Crimea as russia