A French volunteer fighting for Ukraine since January 2023, Khan commands a special reconnaissance group operating on the country’s most active fronts. Having chosen the military as his profession, he is candid about what initially motivated him to join Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression:
“In France, there’s a common perception that Russians are strong, formidable opponents. At first, I was motivated by curiosity — I wanted to see it for myself, to fight them, to gain my own experience.”
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However, what began as a professional challenge did not stay that way:
“Over time, it became personal. I started losing friends in combat here in Ukraine. I also saw how Russians believe they can do whatever they want — raping people, attacking civilians, committing atrocities, acting with total disregard for human life as if they were barbarians. That kind of savagery has no place in the modern world.”
Khan’s combat geography is truly impressive. Since January 2023, he has served in several of the most intense battle zones of the Russo-Ukrainian war:
“My first mission was in the Kharkiv region. Later, I went through the fighting in Bakhmut and took part in the battles for Klishchiivka. I was also involved in the counteroffensive in the Zaporizhia region. Now, I’m back in the Kharkiv region again.”
The French fighter is proficient with a wide range of weapons. He has mastered both Soviet-era rifles, such as the AK-74, and NATO platforms, like the M4. In Ukraine, however, his rifle of choice is the CZ Bren 2:
“It’s a Czech rifle with a short barrel, which is ideal for our terrain in the Kharkiv region. There are many forest areas and tree lines here, so a compact rifle works better for our tasks. The shorter barrel makes movement easier and keeps you quieter. With a long-barreled rifle in dense forest, you’re constantly catching branches and giving away your position with unnecessary noise.”
Small arms are far from the only weapons Khan knows how to use:
“When I was deployed in Bakhmut, my role was to provide close fire support using the Mk 19 automatic grenade launcher. We were positioned very close to Russian lines, and the fighting was extremely aggressive. The Russians were pushing into our positions at the same time Ukrainian assault groups were storming theirs. Every day, we deployed the Mk 19 and burned through massive amounts of ammo — sometimes up to six boxes in just twelve hours.”
The fighting in the Zaporizhia region also left a deep mark on the warrior. He describes it as some of the hardest and most aggressive combat he experienced:
“It was that kind of war where fifty men would be sent to take one tree line, while the enemy did the same on the other side. Artillery was constant, raining down from the sky, and the fighting often came down to face-to-face combat. We were lucky that at that time there weren’t so many drones, not so many FPVs. We faced both well-trained and poorly trained enemy troops. But the soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were very, very good.”
For the Frenchman, commanding an international unit only reinforces the vital importance of cooperation with Ukrainian forces. Clear communication, coordination, and mutual support are central to success on the battlefield. At the time of the interview, his unit was attached to the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade:
“It’s a great pleasure to work with them. Even when we’re deployed on the ground, they provide strong support with artillery and drones. They give us what we need, and that allows us to accomplish our missions successfully.”
Having spent years in the heat of the Russo-Ukrainian war, Khan is convinced that Ukraine’s victory depends on having more people willing to take up arms. Yet he warns that volunteering is not a symbolic gesture — it is a serious commitment with real consequences:
“You have to be absolutely sure you want to come and fight, because this is not easy. This decision doesn’t affect only you. It can put your friends and comrades in dangerous situations. That’s why you need to arrive with honest intentions — honest with yourself, with your unit, and with your family.”
Learn more about how the Legionnaires of the Free World live and fight — and how to join the brave — on the official website.
Text: Dmytro Tolkachov
Photo, video, editing: Volodymyr Patola
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