Publication

This paper discusses the number and nationalities of foreign fighters participating in the conflict in eastern Ukraine as well as their motivations for joining the conflict. The author states that the estimated numbers suggest that Russians are the dominant foreign group, while fighters from other countries probably do not exceed 300 on either side of the conflict and mostly come from Europe. In terms of motivations, he suggests that many of the European foreign fighters on both sides in the conflict share common ideological roots. Finally, he discusses the threat these fighters could pose to European security.