Volunteers from Ukraine leave for South Ossetia

Members of the Ukrainian Voluntary Corps of the Eurasian Humanitarian Mission have left for South Ossetia, as Leonid Slavin, coordinator of the Voluntary Corps, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent on August 11.

According to Mr Slavin, among those Ukrainians who have already departed to the Caucasus are residents of southern and eastern Ukraine and Crimea. Representatives of the organization named "The Eurasian Union" were recruiting them. Volunteers were first examined in situ (since members of the Union were afraid of provokers), then trained respectively and sent to Vladikavkaz via Rostov.

"Our volunteers have gone there with humanitarian mission," Leonid Slavin has emphasized, "and will act exclusively within the bounds of the international law."

As to the statement of Ukrainian nationalists about their readiness to support Georgian army in the conflict, it was treated by the members of the Ukrainian Voluntary Corps of the Eurasian Humanitarian Mission as violation of one of the articles of Ukrainian Constitution.

According to Mr Slavin's version, the Ukrainian volunteers from the Eurasian Humanitarian Mission will, first of all, render psychological and medical aid to the victims, since there are physicians among them. They will also help to restore the ruined cities and villages. If necessary, the volunteers will defend themselves and other Russian citizens with weapon in hands.

Several dozens of Ukrainian volunteers have already left for Vladikavkaz; in some days about the same number will be sent additionally. They are males mostly, but there is one woman, a doctor. Their stay in the territory of South Ossetia will depend on the progress of the events.