Politics

State Dept. warns US citizens of ‘significant risks’ in going to Ukraine to fight Putin’s invaders

March 13, 2022 | | Print Article

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(Video: Fox News)

The U.S. State Department has a message for those U.S. citizens who may be seeking to travel overseas to join in the effort to repel Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and that message is don’t even think about it and stay safe.

As an international force of fighters answers the call of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to form a foreign military legion to beat the invaders, the Biden administration cautioned those seeking to join the cause that they are exposing themselves to great danger, possibly even death.

During a Friday, press briefing, State Department spokesman Ned Price warned that, “U.S. citizens who travel to Ukraine — especially with the purpose of participating in fighting there — they face significant risks, including the very real risk of capture or death,”

“The United States, as you know, is not able to provide assistance to evacuate U.S. citizens from Ukraine, including those Americans who may decide to travel to Ukraine to participate in the ongoing war,” he added.

He also noted that the Kremlin has said that, “it intends to treat foreign fighters in Ukraine as ‘mercenaries’ rather than as lawful combatants or prisoners of war.”

“While we expect Russia to respect all of its obligations under the law of war, in light of this very concerning statement, U.S. citizens detained by Russian authorities in Ukraine, they may be subject to potential attempts at criminal prosecution and may be at heightened risk for mistreatment,” Price said. “Given our obligation to the American people to speak clearly about what we know, we wanted to communicate that in no uncertain terms.”

Twitter reacted to Price’s remarks and not very kindly.

One American who has volunteered to help Ukrainians, discussed what is motivating him when U.S. Army veteran Cody Heard appeared on Fox & Friends last week.

“You know, when I saw civilians being targeted, it bothered me, and I understand in America how lucky we are to live free free so was almost like a calling for me,” he said, ‘you know, so that is really the reason why I want to go too because I have two little girls myself so when I’m seeing innocent children and people getting hurt and being targeted, it makes me feel like a calling I have to go and do.”

“I think that the Ukrainian people are strong, I think that they have a very strong leader, you know, they’re not giving up,” he said. “The motivation that it even gives me as an American, you know they deserve to have freedom and the right to choose they want to join NATO or not to be pushed around.”

“I’ve had to pack my gear,” added Heard, “I have had to get all of my passports in line, there’s a lot of planning that going on with our team, soo there’s a lot of planning you know and just make sure I have everything in line for my wife and children, God forbid something happens.”

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Chris Donaldson
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