‘This is not about glory’
Turmoil for Canadian-led foreign battalion in Ukraine
The Canadian military veteran who calls himself Hrulf says he realized after his first combat experience in Ukraine several weeks ago that he could have died, multiple times.
Coming under small-arms, artillery and aerial fire from Russian forces was a “living hell,” he said.
But the Quebec native is now battling a different kind of foe, as he and the Norman Brigade foreign-fighter unit he commands come under serious criticism from several of the brigade’s former members.
Infantry veterans themselves, they allege that the brigade run by Hrulf — a nom-de-guerre he adopted for security reasons — is reckless, has little weaponry or protective equipment for the soldiers he recruits and no official relationship with the Ukrainian forces.
Hrulf is essentially building a “private army” with volunteers from around the world to defend the village of his Ukrainian wife and children, they charge.
“He’s endangering the lives of unsuspecting young Canadians who just want to go and see combat,” says Paul, an Ottawa-based civil servant who was the brigade secondin-command before quitting and joining Ukraine’s official International Legion. “It’s not right, it’s completely irresponsible, especially for a person claiming to be a commander.”
Like other international troops quoted in this story, Paul asked that his full name not be published for security reasons.
Hrulf strongly denies the charges, and counters that his critics simply wanted to take over the brigade, possibly for their own personal benefit.
“This is not about glory,” he says. “This is about winning the fight here.”
And he has at least one prominent defender among foreigners in Ukraine.
Retired Canadian army sniper Wali — also a nomde-guerre — says he briefly was part of the brigade before quitting after Hrulf suggested they settle their differences by fist fight.
But “I personally like the NB commander,” he said by email. “He is a good fighter and warrior ... We are all on the same side against Russians and that’s what matters the most.”
Regardless of who’s right, the dispute suggests foreigners eager to come to Ukraine’s defence face not just a brutal adversary but the chaos and limited resources of a hastily formed network of international combatants.
The non-ukrainian troops’ unusual role in the war was highlighted last week when fighters from the U.S., Britain and Denmark were killed in action.
Businessman Chris Ecklund of Hamilton, Ont., who set up the FightforUkraine. ca organization to support Canadians who take up arms there, said he’s recommending that would-be defenders avoid the Norman Brigade for now, citing a “huge lack of equipment.”
“Until these things can be rectified, it’s probably not a good idea that you apply and head over.”