Shocking Assassination Attempt on Donald Trump

In a startling incident on Sunday, a failed assassination attempt was made on Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago golf course in Florida. The news reverberated around the world, but it was particularly shocking to many Ukrainians. The alleged perpetrator, Ryan Wesley Routh, has been taken into custody for his purported plot to kill the former U.S. president and Republican candidate for the upcoming presidential election in November.

Routh, who has shown a significant interest in Ukraine, had previously claimed to run a recruitment program for international volunteers to fight against Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, now entering its third year. However, his efforts to recruit fighters, especially those from Afghanistan, were met with skepticism and outright rejection.

Numerous posts from Ukrainian soldiers, who often conceal their identities for security reasons, appeared on X, sharing screenshots of their interactions with Routh. These exchanges revealed that Routh had been cautioned multiple times by members of the International Legion and Ukrainian soldiers to cease misrepresenting himself as a legitimate recruiter. His questionable methods were seen as detrimental to Ukraine’s image.

One notable account from a former member of the International Legion highlighted warnings about Routh as early as November 2023. This individual, whose identity was verified by Rachel Jamison, the Director of Protect a Volunteer, stated that Routh had no official ties to the foreign volunteer unit. Alarmingly, he was also accused of sharing personal information without consent and allegedly sought to illegally transport Afghan nationals into Ukraine.

Routh’s Online Presence and Recruitment Claims

Routh has been vocal in his support for Ukraine across various social media platforms. He operated a website titled “Fight for Ukraine,” which remained active as of Monday afternoon. Euronews confirmed its legitimacy after scrutinizing Routh’s past social media posts and comparing publicly available personal data.

Through this website, Routh promoted his supposed recruitment efforts, albeit with vague details about how foreigners of “all ages, genders, and skill levels” could join the Ukrainian army. He provided specific instructions for potential volunteers, suggesting they could “simply get all the military gear and money and fly to Krakow” in Poland. From there, he outlined an itinerary that included taking an intercity train or bus to Przemyśl and then a local train or bus to the Medyka border crossing into Ukraine.

While Medyka is indeed a popular border crossing for entering and exiting Ukraine, it is one of several options. The rationale behind Routh’s suggested itinerary remains unclear. His subsequent instructions after crossing the border were even more perplexing: “Tell the border guard you want to join the International Legion, and they will take you to the office and meet with Nazar and the leaders.” It is uncertain who “Nazar” is or what “leaders” he referred to, and the information presented misrepresents the official recruitment process of the International Legion.

The International Legion is a legally recognized component of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) with a structured application process that includes thorough background checks before arrival in Ukraine. Contrary to Routh’s claims of accepting volunteers from “all ages and skill levels,” candidates are typically required to have a military background, appropriate training, and necessary clearances.

Once accepted, recruits are not mercenaries; they become legal servicemen of the AFU, just like other Ukrainians and non-citizens. Their recruitment is not a spontaneous decision made upon arrival. Routh’s website continued with misleading instructions that suggested, “They will run your passport and go through your phone to make sure you are not Russian. If accepted, you go directly to a nearby base and train.” In reality, the recruitment process involves formal reviews and communication with applicants regarding their status.

Moreover, Routh’s website included a cautionary note: “Do not call your home country embassy to seek approval to join the fight; simply get on a plane and come to Ukraine and join us.” This advice contradicts the official recruitment protocols of the International Legion and disregards domestic laws in various countries that prohibit citizens from engaging in foreign conflicts.

International Legion’s Stance on Routh

In light of the recent events, the International Legion has denied any affiliation with Routh, informing Euronews that he has never been connected to them in any capacity. “Any claims or suggestions indicating otherwise are entirely inaccurate,” they stated.

Routh’s Activities in Ukraine

Following the assassination attempt, media outlets quickly highlighted Routh’s public assertions of support for Ukraine. He has been identified as a participant in several pro-Ukraine rallies in Kyiv, including an event associated with the Azov Brigade in 2022. The Azov Brigade subsequently issued a statement clarifying that Routh has no ties to their unit, asserting, “We would like to officially state that Ryan Wesley Routh has no connection to Azov and has never had any connection to Azov.” They emphasized that the dissemination of narratives linking Routh to their unit serves to further Russian propaganda and undermines the reputation of the Azov Brigade and the Ukrainian Security and Defense Forces.

Routh reportedly informed the New York Times in 2023 that his aim was to assist Kyiv in countering Russian aggression. He claimed to have traveled to Ukraine shortly after the war began to facilitate the recruitment of Afghan soldiers who had escaped the Taliban two years prior. Routh stated that numerous soldiers had expressed interest in joining and that he was attempting to relocate them from Pakistan and Iran to Ukraine. However, it remains unclear whether he successfully brought any foreign volunteers into the country since making these assertions. A Facebook post from July implied that he was still actively seeking to recruit foreign soldiers but faced challenges in obtaining the necessary authorizations. “Soldiers, please do not call me,” he cautioned on social media. “We are still trying to get Ukraine to accept Afghan soldiers and hope to have some answers in the coming months… please have patience.”