Ryan Wesley Routh, the individual accused of attempting to assassinate former president Donald Trump, had previously traveled to Ukraine in 2022, claiming to assist in recruiting foreign volunteers for the country's defense. However, Ukrainian officials and representatives of the International Legion have distanced themselves from Routh, stating that he had no official role and contributed little to the war effort.
Evelyn Aschenbrenner, who served in the administration of the Ukrainian International Legion until June 2023, described Routh as having "a streak of zealotry" and noted that his alleged involvement in the assassination attempt was not surprising given his previous behavior. Aschenbrenner recounted that Routh initially approached the Legion via text message, offering to help direct potential fighters to the organization.
"The cats and dogs on the military bases did more than he did. He contributed no logistics, no help, no donations. He talked."
The International Legion of Ukraine, formed in 2022 to allow foreigners to join Ukraine's military, has explicitly denied any affiliation with Routh. In a statement, they emphasized that Routh "has never served in the International Legion of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine [and] has no relation to the unit."
Despite lacking official recognition, Routh presented himself as a recruiter and even wrote a book about his experiences in Ukraine. In a video posted online in June 2022, he can be seen standing in front of a billboard in Kyiv displaying flags representing the nationalities of volunteers fighting for Ukraine.
Routh's activities extended beyond Ukraine. He also expressed support for Taiwan, claiming to have spent two weeks on the island encouraging preparation for a potential conflict with China. A website named Taiwan Foreign Legion lists Routh as the International Volunteer Center Coordinator, though his actual involvement and impact remain unclear.
The case of Ryan Wesley Routh highlights the complex issues surrounding foreign volunteers in conflict zones. While international support can be valuable, unauthorized or misguided efforts can create complications for official organizations and potentially harm the causes they aim to support.
As the situation continues to unfold, it serves as a reminder of the importance of proper channels and official recognition in international volunteer efforts, particularly in sensitive geopolitical contexts like Ukraine and Taiwan.