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2022-10-26 Afghanistan

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Posted by trailing wife 2022-10-26 00:00|| || Front Page|| [12 views ] Top

#1 ...Got my doubts about this one. Most of them who didn't get out ended up working for the Taliban, and those guys aren't going to look at the Russians as fellow warriors, especially once they meet up with Private Ivan Afghanretread.

Mike

Posted by MikeKozlowski 2022-10-26 06:42|| 2022-10-26 06:42|| Front Page Top

#2 Maybe redeployed to Africa to cover for recalled Wagner troops... Otherwise it sounds like one of those "too good to check" stories.

Posted by magpie 2022-10-26 11:09|| 2022-10-26 11:09|| Front Page Top

#3 Wagner got nothin’ on The Zoo:

Ukraine’s Foreign Legion offers a shot at redemption for fighters from around the globe
MARK MACKINNON
SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT
THE TORONTO GLOBE AND MAIL
KHARKIV, UKRAINE
PUBLISHED 4 HOURS AGO

On his Ukrainian military identification, Robert Semrau looks older and greyer than the last time he served in an army, more than a dozen years ago. But even at age 49, this Canadian with a set jaw and steely gaze was ready to fight.

That, in the end, was all that mattered to the Ukrainian military intelligence officers charged with screening foreigners looking to enlist in the International Legion for the Defence of Ukraine, a motley assortment of fighters from around the globe helping to resist the Russian invasion.

Mr. Semrau’s controversial background – he was dishonourably discharged from the Canadian military for shooting and killing an injured Taliban fighter in Afghanistan in 2008 – apparently didn’t matter to the Ukrainians back in June when Mr. Semrau enlisted.

Mr. Semrau’s military identification shows he joined the part of the International Legion commanded by Ukraine’s military intelligence service, the GUR. Two other Legion units, the 1st and 3rd Battalions, are attached to Ukraine’s regular armed forces. Each has about 500 fighters, according to Ukrainian media.

Current and former members of the International Legion who spoke to The Globe and Mail say Mr. Semrau, who left the Legion last month shortly after The Globe began asking questions about his presence in Ukraine, is representative of what is informally referred to here as “The Zoo” – a motley collection of adventure seekers, criminals, and con artists who have come to Ukraine seeking glory, reinvention, and redemption.

Mr. Semrau’s backstory is unique, but not entirely remarkable in the ranks of the Legionnaires.

Among the others known to have joined the fight for Ukraine are Rhee Keun, a 38-year-old South Korean special-forces veteran with a large YouTube following, as well as a conviction for sexual assault back home.

Another is Tristan Nettles, a 34-year-old U.S. Marine Corps veteran notorious in Thailand for using his girlfriend to unwittingly transport drugs and then leaving her to face a lifetime jail sentence.

Several foreign fighters espouse far-right beliefs on their social media accounts. One tattoo-covered Canadian fighter, who met with The Globe, drunkenly gave several fascist salutes in the middle of a Kyiv pub while talking loudly about his hatred for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Another Canadian who travelled to Ukraine was retired lieutenant-general Trevor Cadieu, who was on course to take over as the top general in the Canadian army last year before allegations of sexual misconduct dating back to 1994 emerged. He was charged in June with two counts of sexual assault.

Posted by Palermo 2022-10-26 11:24|| 2022-10-26 11:24|| Front Page Top

#4 More context, from a March profile in Task and Purpose of those hundreds of foreign “adventure seekers, criminals and con artists” who have since been killed so far in their Most Excellent Ukrainian Adventure:

Legion of the damned: Inside Ukraine’s army of misfits, veterans, and war tourists in the fight against Russia

Posted by Palermo 2022-10-26 11:33|| 2022-10-26 11:33|| Front Page Top

#5 As of June 17:
- 6,956 foreign mercenaries had arrived in “The Zoo” to fight for Ukraine
- 1,966 of them had been killed
- 1,779 had been wounded

Leading contributors: Poland, followed by Romania and Britain.

Biggest losses:
Poland - 378 dead
United States - 214 dead
Canada - 162 dead

Don’t know the latest tally. Probably close to half of the foreign “adventurers / criminals / con men / misfits” have been killed by now.

Sic transit stupidity

Posted by Angolumble Untervehr8958 2022-10-26 12:08|| 2022-10-26 12:08|| Front Page Top

#6 It would make a good museum piece if the current driver is willing to sell, but you could probably buy one that operates better on EBay. This one will probably shortly need new electrical and extensive mechanical work after a hazmat scrub assisted by luminol spray before it is drivable.

Posted by Super Hose 2022-10-26 14:46|| 2022-10-26 14:46|| Front Page Top

23:17 Skidmark
23:12 Skidmark
22:47 trailing wife
21:32 Super Hose
21:19 Super Hose
20:49 Super Hose
20:18 Frank G
19:59 ed in texas
19:32 swksvolFF
19:29 USN, Ret.
19:26 USN, Ret.
18:21 Mercutio
18:02 swksvolFF
17:41 Delphi
17:37 Raj
17:34 Bobby
17:29 ruprecht
17:05 Ebbuling Spawn of the Ostrogoths3748
16:55 KBK
16:38 Glaper Hatfield4359
16:27 Sgt.D.T.
16:22 ruprecht
16:00 Gromble Dribble4342
15:53 Gromble Dribble4342