Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday gave the green light for “volunteers” from abroad to head to combat zones in eastern Ukraine to bolster Russian forces in the war.
Putin made the remarks at a Security Council meeting, according to Russian state news agency Tass, which described the move as the “provision of military assistance to Donbass on a no-cost basis,” apparently in a bid to distinguish between volunteer fighters and paid mercenaries. Ukraine and Russia have traded accusations of sending mercenaries into the conflict.
