A examine by the Counter Extremism Project (CEP), a corporation primarily based in Oslo, analyzes the function of the group of volunteers displaced to Kiev from international locations all over the world, together with Spain, to defend the nation of Volodimir Zelensky in opposition to Russian aggression .
His newest investigation offers exactly with the primary 12 months of life that the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine, higher recognized by its English acronym ILDU, has simply accomplished. He is revealed by the Counter Extremism Project (CEP), an establishment devoted to learning the threats posed by extremist ideologies.
Rekawek, an skilled in these extremist political phenomena, nevertheless, notes that among the many 20,000 volunteers who’ve traveled to Ukraine to defend the European nation from the Russian invasion, there will not be many individuals whose ideology is out of what it’s, in a broad sense. , the spectrum of liberal democracy.
“In the phrases of 1 overseas fighter, most of those 2022-2023 overseas volunteers could be ‘conservative-leaning,’ however in addition they embrace ‘liberals, leftists, do-gooders,’” Rekawek writes in his examine on the ILDU, revealed within the this Thursday morning. “A humanitarian who works for Ukraine commented that ‘it is a zero extremism camp,'” Rekawek abounds.
Detail of the quilt of the examine carried out by Rekawek on the 12 months of battle of overseas fighters in Ukraine.niusdiario.es
Rekawek writes after having performed interviews with some 70 people who find themselves members of what the researcher involves name a “transnational social motion” to seek advice from the group of worldwide volunteers devoted to the Ukrainian trigger. He is conscious of the presence of Spaniards on this group of “residents of the world concerned” within the protection in opposition to Russian aggression.
A dimension of worldwide combatants completely different from the International Brigades in Spain
“We are going through a singular mobilization, with many sides. It had by no means occurred earlier than, besides, maybe within the case of the Spanish Civil War. But right here we’re, virtually 100 years later, not solely earlier than individuals who struggle, there are additionally people who find themselves devoted to coaching the army, individuals who donate logistics, people who find themselves devoted to distributing logistics,” Rekawek defined to NIUS, shortly earlier than the publication of the CEP report on the ILDU.
According to his estimates, of the 20,000 volunteers who arrived in Ukraine in response to the attraction made in 2022 shortly after Zelensky himself started the invasion, solely about 2,000 have actively participated within the preventing. For this cause, along with the time period “combatant”, these of “teacher”, “humanitarian” or “logistics operator” are those that finest describe the nice occupations of those overseas volunteers.
According to estimates from earlier this month, 150 worldwide volunteers have given their lives for the protection of Ukraine because the Russian invasion started.
“The mobilization of worldwide volunteers that we’re seeing isn’t just a gaggle of boys who’ve gone to struggle. It is a a lot bigger group, numerous by way of ages, of each sexes, and multinational. There will not be solely individuals from the West, there are additionally Colombians, Brazilians, individuals from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, it’s one thing actually spectacular”, says Rekawek.
“The mobilization goes past what they are saying in Russia, as a result of in Russia they are saying that solely the West helps Ukraine. It just isn’t like this. And that is one thing completely different, which has not been seen in different wars,” provides Rekawek.
“We are the Taliban”, say the worldwide fighters on account of their army scenario
These volunteers at the moment are creating a unique function than they’ve been accustomed to in case of getting expertise on the battlefield. Most of them come from the United States, though there are additionally some from different Western English-speaking or European international locations and from different elements of the world.
Precisely these Americans and Europeans who’ve joined the ranks of the ILDU with expertise within the battlefield gained these stripes within the “world struggle in opposition to terrorism.” “They are fighters who now admit to being, as many say, the Taliban,” Rekawek says.
“They fought with logistical superiority, with extra firepower, extra means or potentialities of medical evacuations. In Ukraine, that is solely obtainable in a really restricted method,” the examine’s creator defined to NIUS.
“They acknowledge that of their earlier struggle expertise, they fought with logistical superiority, with extra firepower, extra means or potentialities of medical evacuations, however this, in Ukraine, is barely obtainable in a really restricted method,” provides the researcher. Polish. “These individuals are used to preventing in one other sort of struggle,” he provides.
What occurs after they return?
Of these worldwide volunteers, Rekawek says, they are often anticipated to return to their dwelling international locations with psychological well being issues, akin to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
In this circumstance, it might be handy for his or her international locations of origin to arrange to offer options, as suggested within the closing pages of the doc signed by Rekawek. In his opinion, it’s key that these combatants are recognized and acknowledged, for essentially the most half, not as combatants who went to struggle radicalized as has been the case in different latest worldwide conflicts.
An instance of this recognition that the CEP doc cites is Poland and its promise to “provide support to the households of the fallen Poles in Ukraine,” writes Rekawek. He additionally talks about establishing measures to guard them from doable reprisals to which they could be uncovered by the expatriate Russian group current of their nation of origin.
Rekawek additionally states that, for his or her international locations of origin, these volunteers should be seen as “intelligence operatives.” To the authorities of your nation, your expertise could be of nice assist to know the truth on the bottom of the battle.
However, Rekawek, as a superb researcher on problems with extremism, additionally warns of the presence of Russian and Belarusian volunteers now on the service of Ukraine who’ve their very own agenda. “Even as a part of the Ukrainian Army, and following the chain of command and so forth, there are these people who find themselves saying that they want to carry the struggle to their nation,” Rekawek says.
“You must ask your self: Is this one thing we wish as Westerners who help Ukraine? Is this one thing Ukraine ought to be supporting?” he concludes.