Finnish volunteer fighter killed in action in Ukraine
A 20-year-old Finnish volunteer soldier was killed in action while fighting for Ukraine, Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat reported on April 15.
Foreign fighters
'Don't come, there's nothing good here' — Chinese soldiers warn against following Russian propaganda to fight in Ukraine
The Ukrainian military recently captured two Chinese soldiers fighting for Russia. Kyiv subsequently released data on a total of 163 Chinese nationals identified by Ukrainian intelligence as fighting for Moscow. "We are collecting information, we believe that there are many more," President Volodymyr Zelensky told journalists on April 9. The
Kyiv reportedly extradites German suspected of rape who fought for Ukraine
Ukraine has extradited a German citizen who fought in Ukraine's Defense Forces and is suspected of rape and other crimes, the BBC and Suspilne reported on March 17, citing sources in the Prosecutor General's Office.
‘I can’t sit and watch it’ – US volunteers join Ukrainian army after Trump’s sharp policy turn
Editor’s note: Soldiers interviewed for this article are identified only by their first name, callsign, or nickname due to security reasons. William, a 25-year-old U.S. Army veteran, has come to Ukraine to join the Ukrainian military in its fight against Russian aggression just days after his contract with
JD Vance's cousin, former volunteer fighter in Ukraine, condemns VP's 'ambush' of Zelensky
"Being your family doesn't mean I'm going to accept you killing my comrades," Nate Vance, a volunteer who fought in Ukraine's Da Vinci Wolves battalion, told Le Figaro.
Russia jails British volunteer fighting for Ukraine for 19 years
The court sentenced Anderson on "terrorism" and "mercenarism" charges. Russia often portrays foreign volunteers fighting for Ukraine as "mercenaries" and claims they are not entitled to protection as prisoners of war.
Macron rules out sending French combat troops to Ukraine's front line
France will not send its soldiers to the frontline in Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron said in a television interview on Feb. 18.
Australia making 'urgent inquiries' after reports of volunteer fighter's execution in Russian captivity
Canberra is making "urgent inquiries" about the status of Australian citizen Oscar Jenkins, a volunteer soldier captured by Russia in Ukraine, after unconfirmed reports of his death, the 7News outlet wrote on Jan. 14.
41-year-old Latvian volunteer soldier killed in Luhansk Oblast on Christmas
Platonov was fighting in the areas near the village of Novoiehorivka in the largely Russian-occupied Luhansk Oblast as part of the Ukrainian military's International Legion, composed of mostly foreign volunteers who came to fight, according to the Latvian Armed Forces.
Australian citizen fighting for Ukraine allegedly captured by Russia
The man, who identifies himself as 32-year-old Australian citizen Oscar Jenkins, is seen in military fatigues, apparently tied up, and violently interrogated in a video shared on Russian Telegram channels.
Russia confirms capture of UK national fighting for Ukraine
The Russian Investigative Committee charged James Scott Rhys Anderson with "terrorism" and "mercenarism," following its long-standing practice of persecuting foreign volunteers that end up in Russian captivity.
UK national reportedly captured by Russia while fighting for Ukraine
A video of a man in military fatigues, who identifies himself as former British army soldier James Scott Rhys Anderson, 22, began circulating on Russian Telegram channels on Nov. 24.
Ghanaian men lured to fight for Russia appeal for help from inside occupied Ukraine
The surviving members of a group of 14 men from Ghana who were lured into the Russian military to fight against Ukraine have appealed for help from Russian-occupied Donetsk Oblast, Ghanaian news outlet TV3 reported on Sept. 19.
American pro-Kremlin fighter tortured to death by Russian soldiers, Russian investigators say
Russell Bentley, a pro-Kremlin American man who fought against Ukraine in 2014 and was killed under previously unknown circumstances in April, was tortured to death by Russian soldiers, Russia's Investigative Committee said on Sept. 20.
African POWs on how they ended up fighting for Russia
In this exclusive interview, the Kyiv Independent interviews Somali and Sierra Leonean prisoners of war who fought for Russia in its war against Ukraine.
Trump shooting suspect Ryan Wesley Routh — personal interactions in Ukraine raise questions about support for Kyiv
Almost immediately after a reported second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, reports emerged of the suspect’s apparent support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia. Text messages shared with the Kyiv Independent and conversations with other foreigners living and working in Ukraine paint a picture, however, of
Finnish ex-politician killed fighting as volunteer in Ukraine
Ville Mykkanen is the fifth known Finnish volunteer fighter to have been killed fighting for Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale war.
Another Georgian volunteer fighter killed in Ukraine
Vaso Kardava was reportedly killed by a Russian artillery strike near Soledar-Siversk in Donetsk Oblast. He had been fighting in Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, the Georgian media outlet Mtavari reported.
Czechia sentences volunteer who fought in Ukraine to 7 years in prison for looting
Siman was also accused of illegal service in foreign armed forces, for which he did not receive permission from the Czech president. The court acquitted him of this charge, as Prime Minister Petr Fiala said earlier that there would be no punishment for Czech volunteers in Ukraine.
Investigation: Almost 2 years into first reports of wrongdoing, Ukraine’s International Legion appears immune to change
Editor’s Note: This is the third part of the Kyiv Independent’s investigation into the International Legion – a military formation created for foreign fighters defending Ukraine. Published in August 2022, the first part revealed leadership misconduct in the military-intelligence-led wing of the Legion. The second part, published in November
Military: Egyptians recruited by Russia fight in Kharkiv Oblast
Russia is known to have targeted men from countries including Cuba, Kazakhstan, Somalia, and Nepal to fight in its army.
Another Georgian volunteer fighter killed in Ukraine
Bondo Gagnidze was reportedly killed fighting in Luhansk Oblast. Another Georgian fighter was also wounded, the Civil.ge media outlet said.
Georgian security service reportedly begins investigating fighters returning from Ukraine
The opposition media outlet Mtavari reported on July 21 that at least four Georgians who fought in Ukraine have been sought for interrogation by Georgia's State Security Service (SUS).
Media: Polish volunteer fighter dies in Ukraine
Tomasz Marcin Sekala died in Luhansk Oblast, according to PAP. A funeral was held in Kyiv on July 20.
Georgian volunteer fighter reportedly killed in Ukraine
In comments to The Kyiv Independent in February, the Georgian Legion, one of the leading groups of Georgian volunteer fighters, said that at least 59 Georgian fighters had been killed in battle since the beginning of the full-scale war.
Over 3,000 Nepalis joined Russian army, captured POW estimates
"I guess around 3,000 to 4,000 Nepalis joined the Russian army," Rai Bikash, the captured POW said, after estimating that he saw around 200 Nepalis with his own eyes during his short time in the Russian military.
Third Estonian volunteer killed in action in Ukraine
Martin Jaager, an Estonian citizen who served in Ukraine's defense forces, was killed in combat in the Luhansk region, Estonian news outlet Postimees reported on June 23.
AFP: 16 Sri Lankans reportedly killed, dozens wounded fighting in Ukraine
The Sri Lankan government is stepping up efforts to prevent its citizens from being lured into fighting in Ukraine, after reports of 16 Sri Lankans being killed and 36 injured, AFP reported on June 11.
Georgian volunteer fighter killed in Ukraine
Last month, two Georgian volunteer soldiers fighting for Ukraine were killed in combat near Avdiivka.
2 Georgian volunteers fighting for Ukraine killed in combat
Two Georgian volunteers fighting for Ukraine, David Gogadze and Beso Lomidze, have been killed during hostilities in the Avdiivka sector, the Black Eagle unit said on May 7.
BBC: Russia lures Cubans to army with offers of high pay, Russian passport
Leaked documents reveal that Russia has been coercing Cuban citizens into the Russian Armed Forces with salaries of approximately $2,000 per month, in addition to offers of a Russian passports within months of signing up, a BBC investigation revealed on May 4.
'I’d be a king in Somalia with this money:’ Foreign POWs on being lured to fight for Russia in Ukraine
Adil Muhammad, a Somali, sits in a Russian military uniform among other prisoners of war (POWs) in a press conference in Ukraine’s capital in mid-March. The former infantryman was captured in combat near Marinka in Donetsk Oblast while fighting with the Russian army in Ukraine in early 2024, five
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