The foreigners taking up weapons in Ukraine

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on "all citizens of the world" to join Ukraine’s defence. He said Ukraine would welcome overseas fighters and would consider establishing a foreign legion to combat the Russian invasion.

Australian law makes it an offence to become a foreign fighter without being a member of a foreign country's armed forces. Dr Sara Megar, a lecturer in International Relations at the University of Melbourne explains how and why fighters take up arms for other countries.

Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise Payne said anyone travelling to the region to join the conflict may be breaking the law, but as many as 20 people had placed calls with the Ukraine embassy to ask to sign up. On today’s Briefing, the globalisation of armed conflict.

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