American soldiers are joining the fight against Russia in Ukraine—here's how you can, too

A team of six American special forces veterans is heading to Europe, heeding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s call to join in his country’s defense against the Kremlin’s invading forces, Newsweek reported.

This past weekend, Zelensky announced that his government was establishing an International Legion of Territorial Defense – a unit made for “anyone who wants to join the defense of Ukraine, Europe and the world can come and fight side by side with the Ukrainians against the Russian war criminals.”

Referencing the American soldiers, Zelensky said, “They want to be among the first to officially join the new International Legion of the Territorial Defense of Ukraine."

“Two former American infantry officers are also making plans to come to Ukraine to provide ‘leadership’ for the group,” he added, according to Buzzfeed.

During a media briefing on Saturday, the Ukrainian president invited “every friend of Ukraine” to join his armed forces and citizen soldiers in their fight for freedom.

“Every friend of Ukraine who wants to join Ukraine in defending the country, please come over. We will give you weapons. It will be announced very shortly, how this can be done. Everyone who is defending Ukraine is a hero,” he said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also took to Twitter on Saturday, asking foreigners to come fight.

Foreigners willing to defend Ukraine and world order as part of the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine, I invite you to contact foreign diplomatic missions of Ukraine in your respective countries. Together we defeated Hitler, and we will defeat Putin, too.

— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 27, 2022

“Foreigners willing to defend Ukraine and world order as part of the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine, I invite you to contact foreign diplomatic missions of Ukraine in your respective countries.”

According to the Ukrinform, a Ukrainian media platform, here is how Americans can join the fight in Ukraine:

Step 1. Contact the Embassy of Ukraine in your country with the intention to join the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine (reach out to a military attache or consul: contact details are available on the website of our embassies):

You can apply in three ways: 1) come to the embassy in person; 2) call the embassy; 3) send an e-mail.

Step 2. Get briefed on what documents and gear (equipment) you will require.

Documents: ID or passport (national); passport for foreign travel; documents confirming military service experience (service in law enforcement) and combat experience; other documents on the instructions of a military attache or consul.

Step 3. Report to the embassy with a package of documents for an interview with a defense attaché and for visa clearance – with a consul.

Step 4. Write an application for admission to the territorial defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for contracted military service on a voluntary basis (defense attaché provides assistance).

Step 5. Get instructions on how to arrive in Ukraine, the documents and equipment required.

It is recommended that you have on you military uniform or its elements, gear, helmet, body armor, and more, if available.

Step 6. Cross into Ukraine in a designated manner.

Representatives of Ukrainian embassies, consulates (abroad) and territorial defense forces in Ukraine will provide assistance in deployment. Their contacts will be provided at the embassy of Ukraine in your country.

Step 7. Upon arrival at the assembly point in Ukraine, join the Foreign Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine (sign a contract) and together with soldiers from other countries and Ukrainian soldiers join the fight against Russian invaders.