Force Multiplier or Cannon Fodder? The Role of Foreign Fighters in the Russia Ukraine Conflict
Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine is now at an ever so precarious stage. As of 23 April, Mariupol, which acts as a land bridge from Russia to the Crimean peninsula, stands in the Kremlin's hands. Amidst this chaos and quagmire, in early March 2022 the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy implored foreign volunteers or fighters to take up arms against Russia, as he announced an “international legion.” According to Zelenskyy, close to 16000 Foreigners from 52 countries decided to join the legion in the first week of conflict. These private citizens were not only encouraged by Ukraine but also by some leaders from the West. This article explores the challenges this path might entail and how this pattern could be problematic for a post-war Ukraine as well as the neighboring countries, and the countries sending these fighters.
Scholar Daniel Byman defines foreign fighters as “individuals who travel to a state other than their own to join an illicit group and perpetrate or assist in terrorist attacks or armed conflict.” The definition of foreign fighters, as one would assume, is as contested as multiple definitions or iterations of the word Terrorists since one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. The scholarship on foreign fighters has been predominantly controversial because the definition is not a catch-all or one-size-fits-all phrase. It is pertinent to tailor-make the definition to suit the context. Therefore, the present Russia Ukraine conflict may not fall under the traditional connotations of foreign fighters and needs a new description to study the same.
A picture of some of the first foreign volunteer fighters to arrive in Ukraine back in February (Source: Visegrad24, 27 February 2022)
The concept or idea of foreign fighters, however, dates back to the conflicts during the American and Spanish civil wars. In addition, fighters from abroad have gone in great numbers to conflicts in the Muslim world since Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 to defend Islam and wage Jihad against what they consider to be infidels and apostates. That trend continued and reached its peak in Syria, as the fighters flocked towards Syria and Iraq to join the Islamic State. Despite the stark contrast between ISIS recruitment and Ukraine's appeal for assistance against Putin, the sheer volume of recruits who went to join the ISIS brought the risks of foreign fighters to light. While foreign volunteers may find the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war both noble and righteous, history suggests that their support may encounter challenges and unintended consequences, which may defeat the purpose of their support. One of the many issues or concerns with the foreign fighters was highlighted in a webinar, which focused on the very topic of foreign fighters’ role in Ukraine, conducted by The Soufan Centre on the 29 March. In the webinar, scholar Daniel Byman stated that, “the presence of right-wing extremists should give governments pause when they consider whether to encourage their nationals to go and fight.”
The webinar conducted by The Soufan Centre discussed that many of these "fighters" have gone to Ukraine to take selfies to populate their social media to showcase their solidarity and then make their way back home. However, the most significant issue for the Ukrainian government is that most of these foreign fighters are not combat-ready and might end up being cannon fodder rather than force multipliers on the battleground. While some of those heading to Ukraine might be combat veterans with years of experience, many civilians may be travelling without any training or awareness of the conduct required on a live battlefield, putting themselves and others at greater risk. The impact of foreign fighters on the battlefield in Ukraine is still unclear but it should be noted that conflicts tend to be longer and bloodier when more external players are involved.
Several leaders worldwide have outrightly endorsed the use of proxy warfare by their citizens against Putin in Ukraine. The U.K. Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, expressed that Britons fighting for freedom and democracy in Ukraine is fighting not just for Ukraine but also for Europe. However, we should not forget that these fighters will eventually come back to their country as battle hardened individuals, who might pose security issues. While there is no reason to believe that these fighters will cause any trouble for sure in their native country, they will require rehabilitation to deal with the post-traumatic stress disorder that they might experience as a result of their experiences in the war. The governments encouraging these individuals to fight in Ukraine should also oversee the smooth repatriation and reintegration of these volunteers. They should ensure that these fighters are not subjected to the same treatment as some who went to join the ranks of ISIS and are now suffering in dilapidated prisons in Iraq and Syria.
Two Ukrainian foreign fighters from the United Kingdom (Source: The India Posts, 18 April 2022)
Authorities should be cautious that some of these volunteers might come back and express their dissent towards their incumbent government if they believe that they are not being heard. While others, it has been highlighted by several analysts, might be exposed to individuals who subscribe to far right ideologies and have managed to penetrate the ranks of fighters. Terrorism expert Daniel Byman recently stated that “Those going to Ukraine have little in common with jihadists ideologically, but the presence of right-wing extremists should give governments pause when they consider whether to encourage their nationals to go and fight.” He further added that, while these foreigners, “go to oppose one foe, but in the war zone they mix with other radicals and come away more radical and more networked.”
Privatization of any conflict is concerning and has been increasing alarmingly with Russia deploying mercenaries like Wagner to Syria, West Africa, and now Ukraine, and Turkey using private fighters from Syria in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in 2020. In a conflict like the Ukraine-Russia, governments should be cautious before courting these groups to join the fight, as deploying foreign fighters could be used by Putin to portray NATO as actively involved. The governments of all countries should instead encourage their citizens to participate in this ongoing conflict in a non-violent manner, such as helping the refugees in any way they can and funding medical aid in the war-torn areas of Ukraine.