Finnish soldier: – – Norwegian volunteer soldiers are in Ukraine

– I am now officially part of Ukraine’s foreign legion. From Finnish reservist to Ukrainian recruit. People from all over the world have come here to help defend Ukraine. My roommates are Norwegian and American. There is still room for more!

A Finnish volunteer wrote on social media on Tuesday, enclosing a picture of himself in Ukrainian military uniform.

Dagbladet has searched for the Finn – so far without success. His messages are the first indication that Norwegian volunteer soldiers have actually arrived at the front in Ukraine.

Dozens

Dagbladet itself has been in contact with three people who all say they will complete the final details before they go to war.

Dagbladet is also aware that in the last week it has been mobilized in several Facebook groups. Interested parties have been able to obtain both knowledge about who to contact – and practical information on how to get to Ukraine, how to get in touch with the military and how to obtain weapons and other equipment.

Several of them are organized through the Facebook group «Ukraine International Brigade», created by Tom Tornedal from Tromsø. Shortly after the group was createdthe President of Ukraine asked for help precisely from volunteer soldiers from abroad.

He confirms that a larger group will be leaving soon.

– There is a larger group that is starting to get ready for departure – about 15, Torendal told Dagbladet on Wednesday.

– There is a group that will provide medical assistance – such as evacuation of injured.

Elite soldiers

I international media it says to read about American, British, French, Canadian and Israeli soldiers – many with significant combat experience from countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq – who join the Ukrainian forces. But there are also more or less inexperienced volunteers who travel without a military background.

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Tom Tornedal, who in Dagbladet has told about his role in coordinating foreign soldiers to Ukraine, was clear that the Facebook group he started is neither a propaganda page nor that they encourage people to participate in combat if they are not fit for it. Tornedal said:

– We draw attention to practical necessities and realities – there is no propaganda page. No one is encouraged to take part in combat if they do not have weapons experience or military experience, and if they are not in good physical shape.

A document posted on Twitter by Bellingcat top Christo Grozev shows how Ukraine plans to organize the influx of foreign volunteers:

Disputed

The authorities of several countries have commented on voluntary war effort in Ukraine.

Both the Norwegian, Danish and British authorities have made it clear that it is not punishable to participate as a Norwegian soldier in Ukraine’s military forces. Zelesny has made sure you do not need a visa to enter the country to fight the Russians.

Attorney General Sigrid Redse Johansen said last week Defense Forum that it is not illegal for Norwegians to join an army of a foreign state.

– What has been criminalized is activities that can weaken the defense capability of Norway or allies, she said.

British ministers, however, have not agreed with each other on whether the British actually should trip – Foreign Minister Liz Truss said the government supported anyone who wanted to travel to fight, while Prime Minister Boris Johnson later went out and said the opposite..

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Volunteer foreign soldiers has been fighting in Eastern Ukraine since 2014 – with different agendas.

Critical

Several scholars have been critical of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s prayer. The Norwegian terrorism researcher Thomas Hegghammer commented on Twitter that:

– This is a bad idea, because we do not know what the conflict will look like in a year or two – and because private volunteers can start operating on their own. Streams of foreign fighters often begin in contexts like this – with a seemingly clear conflict where the weaker party needs assistance.

He continued:

– There is a reason why we have military forces – namely to use violence in a controlled manner. Private volunteers make violence more difficult to control. If we believe Ukraine needs, and deserves, military support, we should send in our own military forces – or persuade our governments to do so.

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The ambassador thanks

However, Viacheslav Yatsiuk, Ukraine’s ambassador to Norway, is aware that they greatly appreciate the support of international volunteers. He says to NRK that “several dozen” with Norwegians have made contact, and that this reflects that the conflict also affects Norway’s future.

– I can confirm that someone has contacted me directly, and I can feel that there is a great response to this, says Ambassador Yatsiuk to NRK.

He states:

– There are many Norwegians who want to go to Ukraine, because they understand what is at stake. They understand that Norway’s future will also be decided now in Ukraine.

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