MEDYKA (Dagbladet): It is not allowed for Britons to enlist as foreign fighters to fight against Russian forces in Ukraine. This was stated by the British Chief of Defense, Tony Radakin, on Sunday afternoon.
“We have been very clear that it is both illegal and unhelpful for the British military and civilians to set course for Ukraine,” Radakin told the BBC.
Shortly afterwards, Dagbladet meets Mike Hughes (36) and Alex Fullford (32) on the Polish side of the border crossing Medyka – wearing camouflage patterned equipment.
They are both British Afghanistan veterans, they say, and will enter Ukraine to contribute to the fight against the Russians.
And yes, they have got the statement.
– I understand the rationale behind the decision, but I think people should be allowed to choose even if they want to fight for the Ukrainians. If we do not stop Putin here, we may have to do it elsewhere, says Hughes, who is convinced that the Russian president will not settle for Ukraine.
Will train Ukrainian forces
The veterans both work as ambulance workers at home in the UK.
Hughes has field medicine and trauma treatment as his special field, while Fullford has a military background as an infantryman.
They have not formally enlisted as foreign fighters for the Ukrainian forces, nor will they do so at the behest of the Chief of Defense. The plan is to travel over to teach what they can.
WANT TO TEACH UKRAINERS FIELD MEDICINE: British Mike Hughes has extensive experience as an ambulance worker, and has previously worked with the British Armed Forces in Afghanistan. Photo: Nina Hansen / Dagbladet
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– If we do not get involved, more people will die from conditions that are quite easy to treat, Hughes says.
On a notebook, they have noted two addresses in Lviv. They do not quite know how to get there, but say that both Poles and Ukrainians have been helpful in finding out the practicalities.
Now they are working to find a shuttle across the border.
– We have very limited language skills. None of us speak Polish, Ukrainian or Russian, but things work out, says Hughes.
– So you have a plan for the way forward?
– I hope we get over, via Lviv, then we will see where we go from there. Probably towards Kyiv.
Claims 20,000 foreigners have enlisted
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba claims on Monday that more than 20,000 foreigners have enlisted to fight the Russians in Ukraine. How many have actually arrived in the country is unclear.
In addition, more than 66,000 Ukrainians have traveled home from abroad to contribute, according to Defense Minister Oleksij Reznikov. Dagbladet has spoken to several of them in recent days.
Initially, the British veterans plan to stay in Ukraine for a week.
– I think he will seek out the matches, says Fullford, with a nod to his friend.
– So we move in, fight a little, and move out again.
Then they want to travel back and forth between Britain and Ukraine while the conflict is going on.
– We still have bills to pay at home.
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