Foreign Fighters 2.0: The Interplay of Technology and Lived Experience in the Russia-Ukraine War
By Jethro Norman | Published July 8, 2025 | Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Introduction: A New Era of Foreign Fighter Participation
In the summer of 2023, a café in central Kyiv provided a vivid tableau of a shifting paradigm in modern conflict. Two young men, both aspiring to join Ukraine’s International Legion in the escalating Russia-Ukraine war, showcased how technology and personal backgrounds converge in the evolving nature of warfare. Ramon, a young Spanish technology professional unfamiliar with firearms, and Trevor, an African American veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars dealing with PTSD, engaged in a conversation about encrypted communication, cybersecurity, and drone tactics.
Their dialogue reflected a broader transformation—foreign fighters are no longer defined solely by military experience and ideological motivations but increasingly by their technological skills and how they apply these skills in conflict zones. This new breed of combatants, termed "foreign fighters 2.0," merges civilian tech expertise with wartime roles, reshaping the battlefield and blurring lines between combatants and civilians.
This article, part of Carnegie’s Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program and co-produced with the Swedish Defense University, draws on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Ukraine during August and September 2023. It investigates how digital technologies are redefining who participates in war and in what capacity, offering fresh insights into the complex interplay of technology and experience in contemporary conflict.
The Rise of Participative Warfare
The concept of “participative warfare” captures the growing involvement of digital tools and civilians in war efforts that extend far beyond traditional frontlines. Social media, encrypted communication apps like Telegram, crowdfunding platforms, and open-source intelligence have created new avenues for global civilian engagement in conflict narratives, resource mobilization, and operational support.
Traditionally, foreign fighters were characterized by military skill sets and ideological commitment. The Russia-Ukraine conflict disrupts this model by attracting a new demographic—technologically savvy civilians who contribute through electronic warfare, cyber operations, drone management, and technical logistics. Unlike past wars where foreign fighters mainly brought prior combat experience, “foreign fighters 2.0” often enter battlefields armed with smartphones, digital skills, and a strong grasp of online platforms.
This digital mediation, paradoxically, has enhanced the necessity of in-person, analog interactions for trust-building and operational security. Despite digitization, face-to-face encounters remain essential in the war-torn environment, underscoring a persistent tension between the digital and physical dimensions of modern warfare.
Methodology: Ethnographic Insight from the Front Lines
The research underpinning this article relies on immersive ethnographic fieldwork conducted over three weeks in Ukraine (August–September 2023), supplemented by a follow-up in March 2025 and ongoing digital communication with participants. Initially focused on humanitarian organizations, the study pivoted upon meeting foreign fighters who provided invaluable perspectives on contemporary digital conflict participation.
Through participant observation and semi-structured interviews with individuals attempting to join or serving in the International Legion for the Defence of Ukraine, the research explored lived experiences in informal social settings such as cafés and bars in Kyiv. The methodology emphasized ethical rigor—ensuring informed consent, anonymity, and operational security for all participants.
Notably, the interaction with Ramon and Trevor formed a central case study, enabling deep exploration of how different backgrounds and motivations intersect with technological engagement in war. Supplementary analysis of social media and Telegram channels enriched understanding of digital participation, though the core focus remained on firsthand narratives.
Case Studies: Ramon and Trevor as Emblems of Foreign Fighters 2.0
Ramon, a civilian technologist from Spain, epitomizes the non-traditional foreign fighter. With no prior combat experience, he offers expertise in cybersecurity and drone operation — skills increasingly crucial on modern battlefields. His journey highlights how minimal logistical barriers—chiefly access to a smartphone, encrypted messaging apps, and affordable travel—facilitate civilian entry into conflict zones.
Conversely, Trevor represents the archetype of the traditional veteran foreign fighter burdened by trauma yet adapting to the digital realities of current warfare. His lived experience melds conventional combat knowledge with an appreciation for emerging technological modalities.
Together, they illustrate the merging trajectories of technological aptitude and military service, redefining foreign fighter profiles and the operational fabric of war.
The Paradoxes of Digital Warfare and Policy Implications
The digitization of warfare compels fresh consideration of regulatory, legal, and strategic challenges. Key questions arise:
- How should states and international bodies manage civilian involvement when technological skills outweigh traditional military training?
- What implications emerge for recruitment strategies and operational security?
- How do legal definitions of combatants evolve when digital proficiency becomes as vital as conventional combat readiness?
The research also surfaces tensions inherent in digital conflict—heightened connectivity enhances propaganda and coordination, yet increases surveillance risks and distrust in digital channels. This intensifies the value of secure, face-to-face interactions to maintain authenticity and operational effectiveness.
Understanding these dynamics is critical for policymakers grappling with contemporary warfare’s complexities and for societies aiming to navigate the blurred boundaries between civilian participation and combatant roles.
Conclusion: Toward a Comprehensive Understanding of the Digital Battlefield
The Russia-Ukraine war exemplifies how technology reshapes conflict participation, ushering in a new generation of foreign fighters equipped as much with digital expertise as physical capability. As "foreign fighters 2.0" traverse the digital and physical realms, their presence challenges longstanding concepts of warfare and demands nuanced academic and policy responses.
Complete comprehension of today’s foreign fighters requires recognizing the inseparability of their digital and analog experiences—a dual reality that will likely define the character of future conflicts.
About the Author: Jethro Norman is a researcher with Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program, specializing in the intersection of technology and contemporary conflict.
Related Topics: Democracy, Conflict, Governance, Digital Warfare, International Security.
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