Pavel Slavinsky, Chief of Staff of the 2nd International Legion, reveals the motivations of foreigners fighting in Ukraine. He says this Ukrainian military project is quite dynamic and “has a future,” Dzerkalo Tyzhnia reports. 

“Some want to earn money. Some want to improve their service record. Some want to gain experience, learn modern warfare techniques and methods. Some fight for the adrenaline rush. Some fight for freedom and justice, and some want to kill Russians,” says Slavinsky. 

According to him, volunteers from Colombia and Brazil form one large conglomerate in the Legion. 

“The rest are from America, Britain, and Europe. Roughly 50/50 are Anglos and Spanish speakers. Their motivations differ greatly,” he explains. 

For Brazil and Colombia, many are either economic migrants or cartel-related, sent to gain military experience. These are mostly young men of 25–35 years.

“The Anglos are mostly much older men, over 40, who came to finish what they started in Afghanistan or Iraq,” he continues. 

He does not disclose the exact number of volunteers in the Legion: “That’s classified information. We are a special forces battalion with additional capabilities.”

The ratio of Ukrainians to foreigners is about 50/50. Half are Ukrainians, the other half are international fighters. Many of them are in support roles like logistics, while infantry and specialists tend to be foreigners.

Slavinsky notes that Americans and Brits have the highest discipline. But due to coordination issues, mistakes happen: “If Colombians or Americans are in key positions and aren’t informed that friendly UAVs are flying overhead, they might shoot down anything they see, considering anything unknown as hostile.”

Military tactics have changed fundamentally since 2022. Western veterans, who taught the Ukrainians at the start of Russia’s war, now have to learn new approaches on the frontlines. 

“Now combat involves UAV dominance, small groups of two to four soldiers, and heavy equipment is largely unnecessary as it can’t reach the front line—it gets destroyed en route,” Slavinsky says. 

Sometimes, legionnaires depart from active duty military service and stay in Ukraine before returning home.

“Of course, at the train stations, a person who doesn’t look Ukrainian, especially in camo, attracts police and military police attention. These foreigners often end up in reserve battalions,” Slavinsky says.

From there, they are either transferred to the Legion or try to find ways to leave Ukraine, often communicating well with each other to find exit routes.