On Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged foreigners to head to Ukrainian embassies worldwide to sign up for an “international brigade” of volunteers to help fight the invading Russian forces. Around a hundred Lithuanians have already expressed a wish to go to Ukraine.
Jaroslavas is a former professional soldier. He says he wants to join the Ukrainian army at any cost and, if necessary, take part in combat operations. He is even willing to quit his job to go to war.
The 28-year-old man from Kaunas, who has almost five years of experience in the army, has already travelled to the border once but had to turn around and go back.
“We were on our way to the Ukraine-Poland border and were stopped by Polish officers four kilometres to the border. They did not let us through,” Jaroslavas told LRT.lt. “We were simply responding to a request from Zelensky, but there was no official information yet.”
Back in Lithuania, he contacted the Ukrainian embassy and received official permission to travel to Ukraine.
According to Jaroslavas, other Lithuanians want to go to Ukraine to help in ways other than fighting. He, however, is ready for anything.
“We are not going to fight but to help. But we may need to cover something with a weapon – it’s the Wild West out there, there are no rules,” he said. “Whatever the Ukrainians need, we will do […]. This war is a war for all of us.”
Lithuanians travelling to Ukraine will not carry distinctive signs and Lithuanian symbols because it would be dangerous, according to Jaroslavas. They will also be travelling in small groups.
In the volunteer’s words, those with no military experience should refrain from going to the front: “The Ukrainians themselves say that if you don’t have military experience, you shouldn’t go.”
According to the Embassy of Ukraine in Lithuania, those wishing to join the “international brigade” must register at the embassy with documents, including a certificate of military knowledge.
The defence ministry informed LRT.lt that Lithuanian citizens can join the Ukrainian forces.
“Lithuanian citizens who have decided to voluntarily go to Ukraine and join the military actions should contact the Ukrainian Embassy in Lithuania and coordinate their actions,” the ministry said in a written response.
Lithuanian reservists are not prohibited from going to war in Ukraine either, the ministry added.
But, according to the Law on Citizenship, a person wishing to fight in the military forces of a foreign country should obtain the government’s permission, otherwise one risks losing Lithuanian citizenship. The interior ministry must be contacted for this permission.
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