President Volodymyr Zelensky approved legislation on July 29th permitting Ukrainian citizens over 60 to volunteer for military service during martial law, addressing manpower shortages. This law allows those over 60 to sign one-year contracts, serving in non-combat roles if they meet medical requirements and unit commander approval. Recruits will undergo a two-month probationary period, and contracts will automatically end with the cessation of martial law. This measure, alongside lowering the draft age and offering incentives, aims to fill critical staffing gaps in technical and support units.
Read More
Following an increase in arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) outside immigration court hearings, volunteers are taking action to assist those at risk of deportation. These volunteers, including faith leaders, students, and retirees, provide moral and logistical support to immigrants and families, often helping them prepare for potential detention. Legal aid groups are also adapting to the changing landscape, as government officials are asking judges to dismiss cases, which leads to immediate arrests. Despite facing challenges and potential legal consequences, volunteers are recording detentions and aiding families in navigating the immigration system.
Read More
The outrage is palpable. US military volunteers fighting in Ukraine are vehemently rejecting any peace plan brokered by Donald Trump, expressing a raw, visceral hatred for the former president and his perceived alignment with Vladimir Putin. The sentiment is far from subtle; the language used is blunt, angry, and reflects a deep distrust of any deal negotiated without direct Ukrainian involvement.
This isn’t about a nuanced disagreement over strategy; it’s a full-throated condemnation of a perceived betrayal. These volunteers see any Trump-Putin agreement not as a peace plan, but as a capitulation, a surrender to Russian aggression that ignores the Ukrainian people’s fight for survival.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood