January 1, More than 3,000 Americans Apply To Join Ukraine Forces

More than 3,000 Americans have applied to join the Ukrainian military as the country undergoes a Russian invasion.

“If you are determined to go, be professional, responsible, and realistic in your expectations,” said Frumentarius, a defense official with the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

“Follow the Ukrainian government’s advice about how to officially register, and do not go there telling them where and how you want to participate in the fighting. … You are not Rambo, there to single-handedly slay Russians and post your selfies.”

The 3,000 U.S. citizens are part of the 16,000 foreigners who have volunteered to join the military, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

“We have nothing to lose but our own freedom,” Zelensky said in a video posted to his Telegram account.

However, U.S. officials have advised against Americans traveling to join the fight.

“This is not the place for Americans to be in Ukraine right now, and the State Department has made that very clear in urging over so many weeks for Americans that are in Ukraine to leave, and urging Americans not in Ukraine not to go,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.

“Should Americans want to help Ukraine, and it’s laudable that they do, but the best way to do that is to find ways to contribute to the many nongovernmental and humanitarian organizations that are trying to alleviate what has now become a very acute humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.”

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Volunteer fighters arrive in Ukraine. But the untrained should stay home