Published TUESDAY October 1, 2024: 'WAR-WEARY Ukraine' by ZUMA Partner agency Ukrinform photo-journalist's Dmytro Smolienko and Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy: Ukraine's International Legion was born in 2022, a home for foreigners eager to fight Russia, its estimated 4,000 signed up. In 2024, the legion has been depleted by years of harsh reality and high casualty rates. Three days after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a clarion call for ''friends of peace and democracy'' to join the fight from abroad. Zelensky's International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine (ILDU) was born, echoing the International Brigades that fought fascism in the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s. The war with Russia was a magnet for foreign fighters. After 2 bruising years, many are disillusioned or dead. Welcome to 'WAR-WEARY Ukraine'
© zReportage.com Issue #956 Story of the Week: Published TUESDAY October 1, 2024: 'WAR-WEARY Ukraine' by ZUMA Partner agency Ukrinform photo-journalist's Dmytro Smolienko and Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy: Ukraine's International Legion was born in 2022, a home for foreigners eager to fight Russia, its estimated 4,000 signed up. In 2024, the legion has been depleted by years of harsh reality and high casualty rates. Three days after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a clarion call for ''friends of peace and democracy'' to join the fight from abroad. Zelensky's International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine (ILDU was born, echoing the International Brigades that fought fascism in the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s. The war with Russia was a magnet for foreign fighters. After 2 bruising years, many are disillusioned or dead. Welcome to 'WAR-WEARY Ukraine'

A serviceman of the 65th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine walks through the trenches during combat coordination training.
© Dmytro Smolienko/Ukrinform via ZUMA Press Wire

A serviceman of the 65th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine points at the target during a shooting exercise as part of combat coordination.
© Dmytro Smolienko/Ukrinform via ZUMA Press Wire

A serviceman of the 118th Separate Mechanized Brigade speaks into the radio during the night firing exercise in the Zaporizhzhia sector, southeastern Ukraine.
© Dmytro Smolienko/Ukrinform via ZUMA Press Wire

Servicemen hold a log during a training session of the Spartan separate unit of the Offensive Guard of the National Guard of Ukraine, Kharkiv Region, northeastern Ukraine.
© Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy/Ukrinform via ZUMA Press Wire

Servicemen of the 65th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine learn trench warfare skills and undergo combat cohesion.
© Dmytro Smolienko/Ukrinform via ZUMA Press Wire

A serviceman of the 65th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is seen during combat coordination.
© Dmytro Smolienko/Ukrinform via ZUMA Press Wire

National Guardsmen are seen during a training exercise for soldiers of military units of the Eastern Operational and Territorial Unit of the National Guard of Ukraine in the north-eastern Kharkiv region.
© Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy/Ukrinform via ZUMA Press Wire

Servicemen of the 65th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine undergo combat cohesion training.
© Dmytro Smolienko/Ukrinform via ZUMA Press Wire

A serviceman of the 3rd Colonel Petro Bolbochan Brigade of Operational Assignment of Ukraine's National Guard (also known as the Spartan Brigade) aims a rifle from behind a tree during a tactical exercise.
© Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy/Ukrinform via ZUMA Press Wire

Servicemen of the 128th Separate Brigade of Territorial Defence Forces polish first aid skills as they practice storming enemy positions during a tactical drill in the Zaporizhzhia area of southeastern Ukraine.
© Dmytro Smolienko/Ukrinform via ZUMA Press Wire

A simulator during the training of operators of an anti-aircraft missile system (SAM), Zhytomyr Region in northern Ukraine.
© Pavlo Bahmut/Ukrinform via ZUMA Press Wire

A serviceman of the 65th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during a break while troops receive combat coordination training.
© Dmytro Smolienko/Ukrinform via ZUMA Press Wire