Koreans in Ukraine end up on front lines

Koreans confirmed by the Foreign Ministry to be in Ukraine have been dispatched to the front lines of the war with Russia, Corporal Damien Magrou, a spokesperson for the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine, told Yonhap News..

Ukrainian soldiers chat in front line position close to Kharkiv, Ukraine, on March 26. With the invasion now in its second month, Russian forces have reportedly stalled on many fronts and are even losing previously taken ground to Ukrainian counterattacks, including around Kyiv. [AP/YONHAP]

Koreans confirmed by the Foreign Ministry to be in Ukraine have been dispatched to the front lines of the war with Russia, Corporal Damien Magrou, a spokesperson for the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine, told Yonhap News.

“Some of the Korean volunteers are active in units that fight on the front lines,” Magrou told Yonhap in a video call recently.

While it’s been illegal for a Korean citizen to travel to Ukraine since Feb. 13, at least nine individuals were identified by the Foreign Ministry to have entered Ukraine earlier this month.

They allegedly include Rhee Ken, a Korean YouTuber and former Korean Navy special warfare officer.

The Foreign Ministry warned in a statement on March 8 that it could revoke the passports of Koreans who enter Ukraine illegally and could also press criminal charges.

Around 20,000 foreign citizens were reported to have voluntarily joined the Ukrainian forces including from Canada, the United States, Poland, Britain and the Baltic states.

In his conversation with Yonhap, Magrou did not comment on how many Korean volunteers were in Ukraine, but confirmed that Rhee was not among the Korean volunteers dispatched to the front line.

He also commented on the policy of the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine to not send foreign volunteers back just because their homelands forbid them to enter Ukraine.

The Ukrainian government issued a notice inviting foreign citizens to join Ukraine’s defense forces to fight “Russian war criminals” on Feb. 27, three days after the Russian invasion of the country.

“Ukraine is creating an International Legion of Territorial Defense consisting of foreigners who are willing to join the resistance to the Russian invaders and protect global security,” said the international legion on its Facebook account on Feb. 28, adding that visa obligations would be scrapped for foreign nationals coming to Ukraine to fight.

In countries where travel to Ukraine is not banned, the volunteers are advised to get in touch with Ukrainian embassies to apply.

In countries where travel to Ukraine is banned, individuals have the option to contact the legion directly online and provide their contact information, relevant military experience and training, as well as their language abilities.

Should a Korean volunteer fall in battle, the international legion will contact Korea through official diplomatic channels, Magrou said in his conversation with Yonhap.

He added that in addition to military volunteers, the Ukrainian forces need donations of combat equipment such as thermal imaging equipment and night vision goggles, as well as financial donations.

The Foreign Ministry last commented on the Koreans in Ukraine on March 18, when it confirmed at least nine citizens had entered the country since March 2, many of them to fight.

In addition, some 25 Korean civilians remained in Ukraine as of March 18, of whom 21 had told the Foreign Ministry they wanted to stay in the country despite the war.

The Korean Embassy in Ukraine moved from Kyiv to interim offices in Lviv in western Ukraine and Chernivtsi in southwestern Ukraine on March 3. The interim office in Lviv was shut down on March 17 due to intensified military action, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Representatives of Ukraine and Russia are meeting this week for a new round of negotiations to end the war.

Corporal Damien Magrou, spokesperson for the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine, speaking over a video call with Yonhap. [YONHAP]

BY ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]