The interest of Chileans in joining the Armed Forces of Ukraine has more than doubled in the past three months. This was stated by the Commissioner for Recruitment of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Oleksii Bezhevets, in an interview with the Chilean daily newspaper La Tercera.

https://www.latercera.com/mundo/noticia/mas-chilenos-quieren-ir-a-luchar-en-ucrania-el-interes-de-unirse-a-las-fuerzas-armadas-se-ha-multiplicado-a-mas-del-doble/ 

According to him, the simplicity of the process and the availability of online information have contributed to the fact that more and more foreign volunteers are joining the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which are repelling Russian aggression. Currently, several thousand foreign volunteers are in Ukraine, who have signed official contracts with the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Oleksii Bezhevets noted that the recruitment process is quite simple. “We have an online resource, a website, for joining the Ukrainian army. An interested person fills in all their personal information, including a photo of their documents and a phone number that they use for instant messaging (WhatsApp, etc.). Within a few days, our recruiter will contact them for an interview. If everything is in order, they are given instructions on how to get to Ukraine. After the candidate arrives in the country, the registration process can take from one to two weeks,” he says.

This is what happened to Chilean Julio Perez, who has been fighting in Ukraine since September last year. “When I learned about this war, I could not remain indifferent. I saw how cities full of life were completely turned into ruins. I saw entire families, displaced people, many dead, wounded and maimed. And I am very glad that I made this decision,” the volunteer told La Tercera.

Perez, 55, who previously served in the Chilean army, also noted that getting to Ukraine and joining the Ukrainian army was easy. “After making the decision, you need to get a passport. The people who met me were friendly. I was very well received. People were very grateful that foreigners from such a distant country as Chile were coming to serve as soldiers,” he explained.

Currently, foreign volunteers who want to join the Ukrainian army must cover the costs of their trip to Ukraine. The logistics of arrival include flights to Poland, mainly Warsaw. “Then in Ukraine they are provided with everything they need for service, including clothing, equipment and weapons,” said Oleksii Bezhevets.

According to him, the process of registering for service in the Ukrainian army is also well-established. Foreign volunteers are helped to open bank accounts so that they can receive their salaries and transfer money to their families.

“We offer each person the opportunity to choose how they want to serve, in which unit and in which position,” explains Oleksii Bezhevets. “Soldiers sign a contract with the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. It is concluded for several years, but foreign soldiers can terminate their contract after six months of service. This means that they remain in the army for at least six months, and after this period they can terminate the contract and rest, return home or engage in other activities. Foreign soldiers receive official salaries, which on the front line reach approximately $ 3,000 per month.”

Foreign volunteers serve on the same basis as Ukrainians, conclude an official contract and receive an official salary. The sum of these factors shows that there are no mercenaries in Ukraine, but soldiers with official and legal military service.

All volunteers undergo thorough military training. After that, the recruit can choose a specific military unit and a position in it, for example, a rifleman, sniper or drone operator. The Armed Forces of Ukraine have learned to successfully overcome the language barrier. There are special military units for foreigners, where everyone speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese. Such a structure contributes to the integration of Spanish-speaking volunteers and ensures that knowledge of languages is not an obstacle for those who want to fight in Ukraine. Julio Perez confirmed that he did not encounter language problems in the service and noted that it was not difficult for him to express himself or convey his opinion to the commander.

Women are also interested in serving in Ukraine. According to official data, almost every fifth candidate who applies for service in the Ukrainian army is a woman. They serve as medics, snipers or in other combat or logistics positions. The number of women in the Ukrainian army is growing, reflecting the inclusive nature of the fighting in Ukraine and showing that everyone, regardless of gender, has a role to play in the defense of the country. For his part, Julio Perez told La Tercera about the peculiarities of modern warfare, where drones play a very important role, and about his experience repelling attacks by Russian infantry.