At a time Nigerians in Ukraine are struggling to return home, about 115 young men, yesterday, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, offered to join Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
The men, who besieged the Ukraine Embassy in Abuja, also put down their names in a register provided by the embassy.
Although this reporter was barred from taking their photographs, the Second Secretary, Ukraine Embassy, Bohdan Soltys, confirmed the development, adding that no step had yet been taken to that effect.
The volunteers may have been responding to a recent call by Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, urging people around the world to join the fight.
In a statement released last Sunday, the President accused the Russian army of killing civilians and praised Ukrainians for having the courage to defend themselves.
He said that the assault by Russia was not just “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine” but also the beginning of a war against democracy and basic human rights.
Zelensky had called on anyone who wished to join the defense of Ukraine, Europe and the world to come and fight side by side with Ukrainians.
Meanwhile, Russia on Wednesday morning intensified its attacks on key Ukrainian cities – with fighting raging for a seventh day in the north, east and south.
Russian paratroopers have landed in Kharkiv in the north-east, Ukraine says, with heavy fighting reported.
In the south, Russia says it has taken control of the port of Kherson but its mayor says it’s still held by Ukrainian forces
A 40 mile-long convoy of Russian armoured vehicles is about 15 miles north of the capital Kyiv.
Credit: The Guardian, Nigeria, and BBC Reports.
