Some 20,000 foreign volunteers have signed up to fight alongside Ukraine against invading Russian troops, Ukrainian officials said Sunday.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said at a news conference on Sunday that the number of foreign applicants is “approaching 20,000,” according to the Washington Post.
“Experienced veterans and volunteers from 52 countries of the world come to us. This is their desire,” Kubela said, according to local media.
The influx of applications comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week urged “citizens of the world” to join Ukrainian defense and lifted visa requirements for foreign fighters.
In a video Thursday, Zelenskiy said about 16,000 militants had volunteered to join the country’s efforts to fight Russian forces.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry also posted on Facebook a call for foreign volunteers, asking applicants with combat experience who have “not Ukrainian citizenship, but… oppose Ukraine against [the] Russian invasion”.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called on “citizens of the world” to join the defense of the country.Abaca/Sipa USA
Ukraine has abolished visa requirements for foreign fighters. Nicholas Tukat/AFP via Getty Images
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense posted on Facebook a call for foreign volunteers, demanding candidates with combat experience. Olivier Matthys/AP
A French military vehicle is being unloaded from an aircraft. Daniel Mihailescu/AFP via Getty Images
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