If you needed further evidence of how different a country like Ukraine is from the authoritarian nightmare that is Russia, look no further than this story by The Kyiv Independent.
The paper has published the results of an investigation that reveal corruption and abuse in one of the units that were formed for foreign volunteers who want to help Ukraine fight Russia.
It’s an extremely troubling report, but an important one — not only because this situation needs to be corrected and the abusers need to be held accountable, but because the report could be published in the first place.
A free press that holds the feet of those in power to the fire and demands accountability is a hallmark of a healthy democracy. This is something you won’t ever see in Russia these days.
The Kyiv Independent’s investigation reveals endemic problems in one of the International Legion’s wings that is overseen by Ukraine’s intelligence.
Some of the unit’s commanders are implicated in arms and goods theft, sexual harassment, assault, and sending unprepared soldiers on reckless missions, according to multiple sources.
The allegations in this story are based on interviews with legionnaires, written testimonies of over a dozen former and current members of the legion, and a 78-page report they’ve put together about problems within this particular unit of the International Legion.
For about four months, foreign fighters have been knocking on the doors of high offices asking for help. The report was filed to the parliament, and written testimonies were sent to Zelensky’s office. Alyona Verbytska, the president’s commissioner for soldiers’ rights, confirmed she had received legionnaires’ complaints and passed them on to law enforcement.
The International Legion is divided into two wings — one controlled by the Army and one by the Intelligence Service. The problem is with the wing controlled by the Intelligence Service.
Sasha Kuchynsky is cited as one of those in charge of this wing.
Apart from sending fighters to die, legionnaires said, Kuchynsky forced them to help him loot stores. Fighters told the Kyiv Independent that he is also a heavy drinker who abuses his subordinates.
Another soldier, an American Jew, told the Kyiv Independent that Jewish soldiers experienced antisemitism from Kuchynsky. He emphasized that he did not encounter it from anyone else in the Ukrainian military.
The soldier also says Kuchynsky demanded to have a share of the gear and equipment that the soldier bought for his close peers from the legion. When the soldier refused to give it away, Kuchynsky pointed a gun at him.
The story also alleges that Kuchynsky sexually harassed female medics in the wing.