Australians should not secretly travel to Ukraine to take up arms against the Russian troops, Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison has warned.
He came up with the warning on Monday after Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy put out a call to mobilise foreign fighters, reports 9news.com.
Morrison made clear the legality of people leaving for Ukraine to fight the Russian army was "unclear", while announcing Australia would provide lethal military equipment to Ukraine to help the Ukrainians resist the Russian invasion.
"I can understand, absolutely, the strong feelings and motivations for people to go and (fight against Russia)," he said.
"But I would say at this time, the legality of such actions are uncertain."
Meanwhile, Australia has imposed sanctions on more than 350 Russian individuals, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Morrison said, "Our travel advice to all Australians is do not travel to Ukraine.
"I would counsel against making assumptions about the legality of such activity at this point, given the uncertainties that are associated with the arrangements and the force that the president of Ukraine is putting in place."
Over the weekend Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed for people around the world to consider joining a kind of foreign legion of fighters, to combat Russian troops.
"This is the beginning of a war against Europe, against European structures, against democracy, against basic human rights, against a global order of law, rules and peaceful coexistence," Zelenskyy said.
"Anyone who wants to join the defence of Ukraine, Europe and the world can come and fight side by side with the Ukrainians against the Russian war criminals."
