Foreign Fighters in Ukraine's Military: Hani's Story
Hani, a Palestinian national operating under the call sign 'Khokhol,' is fighting with the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. He has been serving since 2022 and previously completed mandatory military service in the Israeli army. Hani spent 130 days on the frontlines near Kostiantynivka, taking part in combat operations around Klishchiivka and the Siverskyi Donets–Donbas Canal. During his deployment, he helped repel assaults alongside former convicts from the Alcatraz Battalion, including his comrades Samson and Lysyi.
Hani also engaged in close-quarters combat with mercenaries from Cuba, leaving his position armed with a captured 5.45-caliber rifle that he took from a neutralized enemy soldier. Ukrainian defenders in this sector endured artillery strikes, including tank mine barrages.
'I am Khokhol because I am Palestinian by origin, but I live where I like and where it's comfortable. I am the only Palestinian soldier in the 93rd Brigade.'
International Support and New Opportunities
In the broader context of global backing for Ukraine, the parliament has approved government bill No. 12023, which permits foreign nationals and stateless persons to serve under contract in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service, and the National Guard. The law also allows foreigners to hold officer positions within the Ukrainian military. For instance, two soldiers from China have already joined the drone systems battalion of the 110th Brigade.
Reflecting on his frontline conditions, Hani joked: 'We haven't bathed in four and a half months... I'm looking for a girlfriend! I'll just shave first.'
Hani's experience and the inclusion of foreign volunteers in Ukraine's military highlight the global nature of the fight for the country's independence. Integrating international fighters into Ukraine's armed forces underscores worldwide solidarity against aggression. It also opens new avenues for military cooperation between nations, potentially shaping the conflict's trajectory and strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities.