Ukraine war: Briton who volunteered to join fight against Russia turned down and told he would be ‘a liability’ | UK News
Ukraine war: Briton who volunteered to join fight against Russia turned down and told he would be ‘a liability’ | UK News
32 comments
>Leon Dawson has no military experience but wanted to help defend Ukraine
Mate, no, you can’t just go and join a war
>says he was turned down after being told he would be “a liability”.
Yeah, no shit
> the 37-year-old, who runs a gym
Whats he going to do, challenge the Russians to a squat-off?
Think some of these volunteers think they’re off to play real life COD Warzone.
They had the chance to pose for photos and speak to news outlets at least. Good for them.
Fair play for wanting to help but he is naive and they saved his life sending him away.
We’re taking the piss out of him, but at least he and his mate (with the face tattoos) are doing a bit more to help Ukranians than just posting on twitter and reddit
This is why there’s a vetting procedure, he had no military experience.
https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/ukraine/2022/02/27/want-to-go-fight-for-ukraine-heres-what-to-do/
Note the bold in section 2…
> 1. Apply to the Embassy of Ukraine in your country with the intention of joining the Foreign Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine (ask a military diplomat or consul for details). Applicants can visit the Embassy in person, call or send an email to start the process.
> 2. Get your documents in order. This includes an ID, a passport to travel abroad, ***documents confirming military service or work with law enforcement agencies and participation in combat.***
> 3. Arrive at the embassy with documents for an interview with the defense attaché and the settlement of any visa issues with the consul.
> 4. Write an application for enlistment in the Territorial Defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for military service under a contract on a voluntary basis. (This is in addition to Step 1.)
> 5. Receive instructions on how to arrive in Ukraine and what to bring. Military clothing, equipment, helmet, body armor, combat gloves, tactical glasses, belts and vests are recommended. “It is not obligatory,” the official said, “but a foreign soldier in his national uniform looks good for the International Legion.”
> 6. Go to Ukraine in an organized manner. Representatives of Ukrainian embassies, consulates (abroad) and Territorial Defense in Ukraine will provide assistance on the way. Contacts will be provided at the Embassy of Ukraine in your country.
Pretty sure I would be just as much a liability as him if not worse.
Fair play to him for trying to sign up though.
I seen this last night on the news. I really commend the bravery but it’s just silly. If I had military experience I absolutely would be over there, that’s IF I had any. I don’t. I’m not a ‘gym bro’ as I heard a former soldier call this chap yesterday either, and wouldn’t dream of going over without formal training and experience. Not only is there a very high possibility he’ll get killed but he’ll likely put his team in trouble too, he is a liability.
Just go to Poland and help the refugees in some aspect. That would actually be helpful.
The amount of people who think this is a fucking movie where they’re the lead character. This is not about you!!
Given he has zero military training, he’d have been better off staying in the UK, given he speaks none of the local languages, and helping fundraise, manage donations etc.
Far too many people seem to want to go off on a warcation.
Yes, I am perfectly aware of them now being a driver. My point, however, stands. The money he spent on his kit could have been donated instead.
Not surprising. He sounded like a bit of a dingbat in that interview.
Meh. They called for volunteers with or without military experience. He went to the embassy who seemed fine about him offering to volunteer. people seem to have amnesia about this fact. Sure he was eventually turned away because the advice had changed and that’s not really his fault. The guy deserves respect for trying. Clearly a better person than those who sit on social media judging people for wanting to volunteer.
I admire his bravery and enthusiasm but it speaks volumes of the man up when he rocked up to the Ukrainian embassy and asked to “join the Ukrainian army or whatever it’s called.” lol
This is the same bloke who thought a map pocket was a breastplate rig.
So someone with no military training, no combat experience, who would be functionally illiterate, and who cannot follow orders because they don’t understand what they’re being asked to do…. Someone like that is a liability not an asset? Since when? 😂
Too many steroids, not enough reading….
“What do you mean a liability? My KD is 0.96, that’s better than most I’ve seen”
TLDR:
He has no military experience or training.
And whilst they previously said volunteers with no military experience were welcome. They no longer have the resources to train inexperienced volunteers.
So they asked him to help with the aid effort instead.
Regardless of the logistics and practicalities, I’m not going to judge someone putting themselves at risk to help others. A brave man.
Other than the political fallout because of his nationality, what’s the difference between him and the Ukrainian 18-60 conscripts, without prior military experience and handed weaponry, protecting their country?
At least he put himself forward and tried. I respect him for that.
Its weird, ive always been antiwar but ukraine has hit differently
This war has finally given me the desire to get fit and back in shape after years of just letting my fitness drop. I would go to fight but i know i will be of no pratical use.
Im unfit, have no combat experience, dont speak russian or ukrainian, and am untested in actual war.
But if the UK started recruiting id sign up in a heart beat. I just need to get in shape first.
My job isnt fulfiling and doesnt improve anyones life. At least this was i could do something.
Maybe its because i worked with ukraineians before. Maybe ive just changed with age. But i want to do more than stand on a cold uk street waving a flag, posting on reddit or giving money to someone who will spunk 90% of it on themselves…
At least rocky montaging myself will solve one of my shortcomings to being useful
A lot of people here taking the piss, but good on him and others for at least trying! He wanted to help which is more than a lot of you keyboard warriors.
Whatever, you can mock him all you want, but dude did actually stand to his words and offered his service. Driving inside the warzone to deliver aid and supplies is very brave and very needed. I’m feeling very grateful that the country I call home has people like Leon.
Volunteered to fight for Ukraine but has never fired a weapon and cant speak Ukranian or Russian.
I mean, come on.
I think: “Yeah, well if he wants to help and is willing to fight!”
Then I remember some of the lads in my platoon in the army, they were a liability and they were trained! Some of the things that make youa liability would be:
Accidentally running in front of someone giving covering fire. -Private, 4 years experience.
Shooting yourself in the foot while running with your safety off. -Lance corporal 10 Years Experience
So imagine what a fit and able lad who doesn’t speak the language and even if he did, doesn’t know the Language of a soldier (Acronyms etc) running around with a loaded gun.
At the very least, you MUST have military experience.
Good for him though for volunteering to help.
Slava Ukraini!
He has liability written all over him. Probably literally.
not surprised. i cringed even watching that on tv…..” yo, whats it called again innit?” …..more like he didnt really want to go, just for abit of limelight. now make a new story about this….absolute jock strap
ITT: bunch of standard r/UK dickheads who are judging this guy as some delusional gamer and didn’t even bother reading the article.
r/UK is really a cesspit of miserable, hateful fucks.
Look it’s all nice and we’ll talking a good game but you’re going into the, “run for your life for the next fifteen minutes or you’re going to get shot by a tank,” game so if they say you’re a fucking liability, you’re a fucking liability.
It doesn’t matter if you can deadlift two whole assholes plus gear if you don’t have any of the knowledge it would take to survive in an actual warzone.
On the one hand, it’s good that he helped out. Good for him.
On the other hand, I hope he goes to see a psychiatrist or something because that is some wildly strange behaviour. He probably means well but mentally healthy men in their late thirties don’t volunteer to fight in unrelated wars*. Something might be out of whack in his brain, best get it checked out now before going completely sideways.
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*It’s hard enough getting young people to do it and they’ll believe any old shit.
From the article:
Leon Dawson told Sky News he was willing to lose his life defending Ukraine when he visited the country’s embassy in London to sign up to its “foreign legion” of fighters.
Mr Dawson has now travelled to the Polish border with Ukraine in a **van filled with aid** – and he says he would still be willing to take up arms if required.
Mr Dawson said it was **not clear before he volunteered to join the foreign legion that Ukraine would reject offers due to a lack of military experience**.
Mr Dawson is travelling to the Polish town of Medyka – the main border crossing between Poland and Ukraine – with another British man called Kai Portlock.
**They are driving a van “full to the brim” with aid including food, medical supplies and children’s toys** and they hope to enter Ukraine, Mr Dawson said. He said his family were “scared” and “apprehensive” about the thought of him travelling to the war-torn country, but added: “They understood that I needed to get involved.
**”I couldn’t just sit at home and do nothing while women and children are being blown up.”**
Asked if he had wanted to join Ukraine’s military, he replied: **”I was just willing to do whatever.”**
**”We’re happy to help. It’s being realistic with what we can do, without being idiots.”**
“We’re going there to do good. We’re doing what needs to do to help families.
“We’re not going trying to get involved in anyone else’s war.”
A good man tries his best to help support in a war and this sub just shits all over him for it. Been really disappointed with this sub in the last few days.