Foreign fighters in Ukraine - who are they and is there one background for these groups,?
April 6, 2022, 4:02 pm

Foreign fighters in Ukraine - who are they and is there one background for these groups,?

روسيا وأوكرانيا \ ليفانت نيوز

Ukraine has attracted many foreign fighters, some of whom fight on the side of Ukraine and others on the side of Russia, but the question is, who are these foreign fighters and do they have one background for these groups?

Press reports from the Ukraine battlefields have shown that Russian mercenaries fighting in Ukraine, including the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group, are linked to far-right extremism, including an organization designated as terrorist by the United States.

Reports from the German DW have shown links between pro-Russian forces and violent right-wing extremism, including those directly linked to Wagner. Some posts on Telegram, dated March 15, 2022, showed the flag of the Russian Imperial Movement (RIM), a white-superior paramilitary organization designated as a terrorist by the United States.

Intelligence services to be more worried, German authorities has made efforts to adopt a plan of action against right-wing extremism. The war in Ukraine is pushing the intelligence services to be more worried. "It shouldn't be overstated," says Thomas Haldenwang, head of the domestic intelligence agency, the Federal Bureau for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV). He added, young men took to social media channels pledging to join the fight in Ukraine, but Haldenvang described them as simply engaging in "bragging", meaning that they are not linked to right-wing organizations, but are motivated by enthusiasm to fight in Ukraine.

Intelligence agency has identified right-wing

The local intelligence agency in Germany has identified right-wing extremists planning to take up arms in Ukraine and authorities are trying to prevent them from leaving the country by canceling their passports. Haldenwang says that no more than a few cases have been confirmed of German far-right activists who have actually left for Ukraine and "in these specific cases, we do not assume that they actually took part in any hostilities." Far-right groups in Ukraine - a force of attraction Far-right groups have gained significant power in Ukraine.

Ukraine attracting far-right

Since 2014, Ukraine already has a precedent in attracting far-right groups and individuals from other countries, who have sought to use the current political instability to gain combat experience. In this context, Kakbir Rekawik, a fellow at the Center for Research on Extremism at the University of Oslo who has studied foreign fighters in Ukraine since 2014, believes that not all extremists who have traveled aim to fight, adding: "All the people who go say the same thing: 'I'm here for humanitarian reasons.'" ...unlike in 2014, they do not appear to be motivated, as a group, by a particular set of ideological metaphors."

According to report entitled "Who are the foreign fighters traveling to Ukraine? What we know and what we don't know" published by peoplesdispatch.org, Ukraine - a mixture of foreign fighters likes “Azov fighters”, and European neo-Nazis, it can be said that what exists can be described as a mixture of fighters, and this raises the concern about the return of foreign fighters to their homelands who have become far-right extremists and have combat experience.

However, with some weeks into the war, the issue of foreign fighters raises many other questions that cannot be answered yet. Although the phenomenon of foreign fighters is not new, recent developments in Syria and Iraq have put this issue back on the EU's security agenda.

ISIS or Al-Nusra in Syria and Iraq

Here, the Western Balkans cannot be excluded from this trend. Here, we should not look at violent extremism in the region in general through the lens of “jihadist” Islamists and foreign fighters who joined ISIS or Al-Nusra in Syria and Iraq but rather look at other forms of extremism, such as far-right and ethnic groups, and this is a secondary concern.

The fighters is an illegal act National legislation recognizes that fighting foreign groups is an illegal act, so returnees from the Middle East could face security response in their home countries, while those returning from Ukraine usually remain exempt from prosecution and severe penalties.

This highlights the issue of the handling of the “issue” of foreign fighters by Western Balkan governments, especially after an alleged coup attempt was thwarted during the Montenegrin general elections in late 2016. National legislation recognizes that fighting foreign groups is an illegal act, so returnees from the Middle East face a robust security response in their home countries, while those returning from Ukraine usually remain exempt from prosecution and severe penalties.

Covid cases exceed 200,000 in France as presidential elections approach NATO says Russian troops regrouping, shifting their focus to the east to try to take Donbas region

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.