Friday

29th Mar 2024

Podcast

Foreign fighter diaries

  • Typical living quarters for volunteer foreign soldiers now fighting Putin's army in Ukraine (Photo: Helena Malikova)

Thomas lives in Brussels. But last week, seemingly out of the blue, he upped sticks and left.

He was already heading into Ukraine when he began sending his first dispatches — simple but captivating voicemails.

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Thomas is now in the international brigades, which are comprised of foreign fighters from all over the world.

Like Thomas, many of the fighters were responding to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky's call to help his country in its hour of need.

And, like Thomas, they now are patrolling Ukrainian streets against Russian incursions, on Europe's new frontline.

Author bio

EU Scream is the progressive politics podcast from Brussels. Produced by James Kanter with graphics by Helena Malikova and music by Lara Natale.

You may also follow via @euscreams subscribe via iTunes, Spotify or from the EU Scream website.

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Foreign fighter diaries — Part 2

In this episode Thomas and his unit arrive in Kyiv, as part of efforts to try to stop Putin's army from taking the capital.

To Kyiv — and back

Would you pick up a gun and fight for Ukraine? The injustice of the Russian invasion has led white-collar professionals like Florent and Thomas to trade suits and ties for camouflage and Kalashnikovs.

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The dumpster fire at the European Parliament may be largely of the EU's own making.

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