Ukraine’s far east

“Since the conflict began in 2014, when Russia invaded and annexed Crimea and backed separatists in two breakaway territories in the country’s east, it is understood that at least 17,000 people have travelled to Ukraine to fight for militias on both sides of the divide.

Many have been from Russia or former Soviet Republics such as Azerbaijan and Georgia, but according to the Norwegian Institute of Foreign Affairs, up to 1,000 Westerners have joined the fight.

Some are driven by political beliefs, on the far right or far left of the spectrum.” — Al Jazeera