Ukraine Embassy in Abuja Reveal Conditions for Nigerian Volunteers to Fight in Ukraine
The Embassy of Ukraine in Nigeria have reveal conditions to Nigerians willing to travel to Ukraine to fight Russian forces.
The Embassy stated that Nigerians willing to go to Ukraine must be willing to provide $1,000 for ticket and visa.
This was made known when scores of Nigerians stormed the embassy in Abuja on Thursday to express their readiness to join the Ukrainian side.
According to Punch, the Second Secretary at the Ukrainian Embassy to Nigeria, Bohdan Soltys, confirmed that $1,000 would be needed by Nigerian volunteers.
Soltys said it would be difficult for Nigerians to travel to Ukraine now since the airspace had been shut due to the war.
He said since Nigerians needed visas to visit Romania and Poland, it would be difficult for them to use the land borders.
“It is normal practice when people want to volunteer and join the army of another country. It is a normal international practice. Of course, for us, it is an expression of support which we really appreciate. For now, no one has gone. We have received hundreds of applications from people who said they are willing. We have sent lists to the government but I cannot tell you what will happen next.
“In this particular case, you cannot fly to Ukraine. The only way you can fly is to countries that border Ukraine. All these countries are part of the EU and Nigerians will need visas to visit these countries. So, it is a big obstacle. You cannot fly directly to Ukraine. You will have to go to Poland or Hungary,” Soltys said.
The diplomat said Ukraine was not recruiting mercenaries but volunteers. He, therefore, advised Nigerians not to focus on the money. He, however, promised that Nigerian volunteers would be paid the same as Ukrainian soldiers.
“If a person wants to fight for Ukraine or any other country, only volunteers can do it. If Ukraine pays these people, they will be mercenaries and it violates international law… In general, when a person joins another country’s army, they pay the normal price that their soldiers are paid. This is how it works across the world. You come to fight because an injustice has been done,” he said
On why $1,000 was being demanded from Nigerian volunteers, the Ukrainian diplomat said, “Yes, $1,000. That is what I paid the last time I visited Ukraine.”
The announcement however did not go down well with the Nigerians who lamented that the price was too high.
