"When we think of war, we often picture distant battlefields, trenches, drone strikes and convoys under fire, but the reality today is far more complex. From volunteer fighters crossing continents to Russian saboteurs hiding in plain sight in London suburbs, the war in Ukraine has become a global fight - a world war, whether we choose to accept that or not. It's no longer fought only between armies, but between networks, ideologies and digital shadows."
"Many come to Ukraine in search of a better life, the same can be said of many Russian soldiers, who import far more foreign fighters than Ukraine ever has. I dislike the term foreign fighter, but when referring to soldiers not born in either Russia or Ukraine, it best describes those who arrived after February 2022 specifically to fight in this war."
"Travelling abroad to fight in someone else's conflict isn't a normal life decision. It's usually driven by financial desperation, poor choices or the lure of adventure. For some, war offers a sense of purpose, structure and direction missing from civilian life, but I'll cover that in more detail later. I learned early on that you need a filter for these people."
War in Ukraine has expanded into a global conflict involving volunteers, covert saboteurs and transnational networks that transform battlefields into ideological and digital arenas. Fighters travel across continents, driven by financial desperation, poor choices, adventure, or a search for purpose, structure and identity. Foreign fighters include those not born in Russia or Ukraine, with many arriving after February 2022. Volunteers often conceal deep personal problems and unstable motivations, requiring assessment and categorization. Volunteers can be classified into Believers, who fight for a perceived righteous cause; Killers, who seek violence and belonging; and Runaways, who use war as an escape.
Read at London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
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