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According to the report, the flow of American volunteers serving in the Ukrainian army has decreased, but has never stopped after the first wave, which began after the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. Independent estimates of the number of Americans who will voluntarily join the Ukrainian Armed Forces from 2022 vary significantly - from more than 1,000 to several thousand fighters. At the same time, the Ukrainian side does not make such figures public. This is reported by The New York Times. The publication noted that over time, the composition of American volunteers has changed - now the majority are people without military experience, older people, or US veterans who want to revive their military careers. "Interviews with American recruits, the aid workers who help them, and their Ukrainian commanders reveal a range of motivations. Some come seeking purpose and opportunity that they feel are missing from dead-end jobs back home. Resentment at Russian aggression remains a major motivator, while some soldiers seek a way to leave a troubled life behind. Others want a second chance at a military career and a chance to test themselves in combat," the report says.
The report also said that, at the same time, some soldiers said they plan to stay in Ukraine after the war ends and hope to find opportunities that are not available in the United States. The NYT adds that, regardless of the reasons, joining the Ukrainian Armed Forces turned the conflict into a sharp, defining test for American volunteers. Many of them survived dangerous situations, were seriously wounded, lost comrades, and spent long periods in trenches and ruined cities. According to journalists, Ukraine does not have as many soldiers as Russia, so it faces problems with mobilization, which is why it happily accepts foreign volunteers. Such soldiers serve in regular army units or in one of two international legions. Their pay is the same as that of Ukrainian fighters - about $ 1,000 per month and combat allowances, which can add about $ 3,000 per month. "Some people come to Ukraine with the motive of fighting for freedom, for what is right. Others want to make money or run from the law," said Nikolai Lavrenyuk, the Ukrainian commander of a platoon of international soldiers that includes Americans. The commander said he had seen some American citizens arrive with poor dental health, as well as drug and legal issues. He said one American soldier was wanted in his country for smuggling drugs across the Mexican border. But before that became known and he was arrested, Lavrenyuk said, "he fought well."The defense attorney added that American veterans are valued in the Ukrainian Armed Forces because they are usually better trained than veterans of the armed forces of other countries. "It's great that they are in our ranks," he assured.
The report also said that, at the same time, some soldiers said they plan to stay in Ukraine after the war ends and hope to find opportunities that are not available in the United States. The NYT adds that, regardless of the reasons, joining the Ukrainian Armed Forces turned the conflict into a sharp, defining test for American volunteers. Many of them survived dangerous situations, were seriously wounded, lost comrades, and spent long periods in trenches and ruined cities. According to journalists, Ukraine does not have as many soldiers as Russia, so it faces problems with mobilization, which is why it happily accepts foreign volunteers. Such soldiers serve in regular army units or in one of two international legions. Their pay is the same as that of Ukrainian fighters - about $ 1,000 per month and combat allowances, which can add about $ 3,000 per month. "Some people come to Ukraine with the motive of fighting for freedom, for what is right. Others want to make money or run from the law," said Nikolai Lavrenyuk, the Ukrainian commander of a platoon of international soldiers that includes Americans. The commander said he had seen some American citizens arrive with poor dental health, as well as drug and legal issues. He said one American soldier was wanted in his country for smuggling drugs across the Mexican border. But before that became known and he was arrested, Lavrenyuk said, "he fought well."The defense attorney added that American veterans are valued in the Ukrainian Armed Forces because they are usually better trained than veterans of the armed forces of other countries. "It's great that they are in our ranks," he assured.