Latvian Parliament Authorises Country’s Citizens to Fight in Ukraine Amid Russia’s Denazification Op

On 24 February, Russia began a special operation to demilitarize Ukraine, responding to calls from the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics for help in countering the aggression of Ukrainian forces.

Latvia's parliament has unanimously authorised Latvian nationals to fight for Ukraine if willing, a foreign ministry spokesperson said.

"Our citizens who want to support Ukraine and volunteer to serve there to defend Ukraine's independence and our common security must be able to do so," the chairman of the parliamentary defence, home affairs and corruption prevention commission, Juris Rancanis said as quoted by Reuters.

On 21 February, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognising the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics and early on the morning of 24 February, Russia launched a military operation to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine. In a televised address to citizens, Putin said that circumstances “require decisive and immediate action”, as the Donbass republics asked for help.

In turn, the Russian Defence Ministry stressed that the Russian Armed Forces did not launch any strikes on the cities of Ukraine: its military infrastructure was disabled by high-precision means. The civilian population, according to the ministry, was not in danger.

In the past week's situation along the line of contact has significantly deteriorated as Ukrainian forces intensified the shelling of Donbass.