Putin Receives 16,000 Applications From Foreign Fighters To Join Russian Troops In Ukraine

Vladimir Putin of Russia has been told that more than 16,000 foreign fighters want to fight with Russia in the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine, as the Russian president appeared to encourage a foreign legion working with Moscow-led forces.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told Putin on Friday that Russia had received 16,000 applications from foreigners wanting to come to the self-proclaimed Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics (LPR and DPR).

He said that they expressed their interest “not for money, but for personal convictions,” defense ministry publication Zvezda reported.

During the video conference call, Putin said that if such volunteers wanted to “come and help people living in the Donbas,” then Russia needed to “help them move to the war zone,” RIA Novosti reported. He also referred to Ukraine’s growing band of foreign fighters.

The conflict in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas has been ongoing since 2014. Defending the Moscow-backed republics there has been part of Putin’s pretext for invading Ukraine, along with the so-called “denazification” and “demilitarization” of the country.

The state media reports did not specify if the foreigners would participate in other parts of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via videolink in Moscow on March 11, 2022. His defense secretary said that more than 16,000 foreigners want to fight alongside Russian troops in Ukraine.