Foreign Volunteers Surge to Ukrainian Defence Forces Following Trump’s Remarks (Video)

A significant increase in the number of foreign volunteers joining the Ukrainian Defence Forces has been reported, following controversial statements from the Trump administration and a dispute involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to sources within the Ukrainian military, a surge in applications from foreign fighters has been recorded, with many eager to sign contracts to support Ukraine.

A recruiter from an elite Ukrainian military unit that accepts foreign volunteers confirmed that applications had risen by several thousand following heated discussions in the Oval Office. Many of these volunteers have expressed frustration with American policies, stating their decision is based on both outrage at the shifting stance in Washington and a deep understanding of Ukraine’s urgent need for manpower and weaponry to resist Russian aggression.

Among the new recruits are former United States military personnel who have completed their service and now seek to fight alongside Ukrainian forces. One such volunteer, William Shar, a 25-year-old artilleryman and US Army veteran, said he could not stand by while Ukraine struggled against Russian forces. He cited the turning point as the February 28 meeting between Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and President Zelensky in the Oval Office.

Ron, another American veteran from Colorado who served in Afghanistan, also voiced his dissatisfaction with United States policies toward Ukraine. He described his decision to join as a personal mission, explaining that he could not ignore the bravery of the Ukrainian people and the challenges they face with limited Western support.

Not all foreign volunteers have prior military experience. A 40-year-old man known as Esquire, who has no previous military background, stated he felt betrayed by his own country and was compelled to act. Married with two children, he made the decision to enlist after becoming disillusioned with what he described as a failure of leadership.

Meanwhile, the 12th Azov Special Operations Brigade of Ukraine’s National Guard has begun recruiting foreign fighters to bolster its ranks. On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces continue to engage Russian troops, recently capturing eight soldiers from Russia’s elite airborne and naval infantry units in the Kursk region.

Reports indicate that Russian prisoners of war have received medical and psychological assistance upon their capture. In contrast, those who serve in the Russian military face severe mistreatment, torture, and even execution for refusing to follow criminal orders.

Despite a tactical withdrawal by Ukrainian forces from the city of Sudzha in the Kursk region to establish stronger defensive positions, fighting in the area remains intense. On March 15 alone, Ukrainian officials recorded 11 clashes, including ongoing battles, along with two Russian airstrikes, 32 guided bomb attacks, and 150 artillery shelling incidents. The Kursk front is among the most intense battle zones in Ukraine, second only to the fighting in the Pokrovsk direction.

President Zelensky, in a March 15 address, described the Kursk operation as a success, forcing Russia to concentrate its forces in the region. This, he said, has helped relieve pressure on other fronts. Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, warned that Russian troops are attempting to push the fighting toward the Sumy and Kyiv regions. According to Ukrainian estimates, Russian losses in the Kursk operation have exceeded 54,900 personnel, including over 22,200 killed, 31,800 wounded, and nearly 10,000 taken prisoner.

Russia has continued its military buildup along the eastern border, deploying reconnaissance and sabotage groups in an effort to infiltrate Ukrainian territory. Ukrainian officials believe these actions further prove Moscow has no interest in genuine diplomacy and is instead prolonging the war. President Zelensky has described Russia’s strategy as one of deliberate delay and deception, while evidence of staged Russian propaganda videos in the occupied city of Sudzha further highlights the Kremlin’s manipulation tactics.