At the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, thousands of foreigners flocked to Ukraine to join its defense against Russian forces. More than three years later, the foreign fighters who remain are a different breed — driven by a deep commitment to Ukraine. As drones reshape the nature of warfare, surviving on the battlefield now demands new skills, and solid infantry or special forces experience alone is no longer enough. With its newly created International Battalion, Ukraine’s legendary Azov Brigade aims to fill this gap, offering modern training for foreign soldiers. The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell and Olena Zashko spoke with Azov’s foreign fighters during training in the east of Ukraine.

From The Kyiv Independent - News from Ukraine, Eastern Europe via this RSS feed