Ukrainian foreign fighters have mocked an American citizen who fled Ukraine when faced with the Russians in Kyiv using supplied equipment. They also complained that he was being enticed to a “trap”.
Henry Hoeft, 28, was among thousands of foreigners to answer the call of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky to help repel Moscow’s invasion of his country – including a reported 3,000 U.S. citizens.
Hoeft, who also goes by the name of Henry Locke, is a 28-year-old former U.S. Army infantryman with associations with the American far-right group Boogaloo Boys.
A video of the Ohio native speaking to camera about his experiences trying to escape the country went viral on social media this week, with the army veteran admitting that he and two others fled the country in an ambulance.
He claimed that he and others in his unit were supplied with limited gear when asked to fight in Kyiv, something they refused to do.
But according to other foreign fighters, when the American attempted to join the Georgian National Legion – a unit of foreign fighters separate from Ukraine’s Foreign Legion – he was rejected for not meeting the necessary requirements.
They also disputed claims that he made about an alleged attack on a Georgian National Legion base, and his experiences trying to leave Ukraine.
Henry Hoeft (28 years old) was one of thousands of foreigners who answered the call from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky for help in repelling Moscow’s invasion. On social media, Hoeft spoke to cameras about his experience trying to escape from the country.
He claimed that he was at a base attacked and died.
Then he said that his unit had been asked to travel to Kyiv. Kyiv is the Ukrainian capital, which has been anticipating a massive Russian invasion.
According to him, his unit was unwilling to travel. He claimed that his unit was refusing to go.
They’re trying to send us to Kyiv with no f***ing weapons,’ he claimed. ‘No kit. No f***ing plates. The people who are lucky enough to get weapons are only getting magazine with like 10 f***ing rounds.
‘When they wanted to send us to Kyiv we said no – the whole group. In the footage, which was shot at an unidentified location, he stated that there were “bunch” of Americans, Canadians, and British.
‘So they told us we have to get the f*** out of there or they were going to shoot us in the back, alright. So me, this British guy and another American, we f***ing hid in the back of an Ambulance to get out.’
Hoeft claimed that he heard of stories about foreign fighters being told they couldn’t leave Ukraine without their equipment. In some cases, their passports were ripped and told them to go back to the frontlines.
“They are pulling people out and cutting up passports. They’re sending them back,” he stated, before claiming that he had fled with his friends.
‘So we dump out s**t, we got like – in like red cross vests and they had f***ing humanitarian passes to get us through the Ukrainian border,’ he told the camera.
Hoeft (pictured) is a former U.S. Army soldier who goes by Henry Locke. He was 28 years old and has been associated with American far-right organization Boogaloo Boys.
Hoeft (a Frazeysburg, Ohio resident) has been filming in Ukraine using his TikTok Channel. It has been banned or deleted since the last video he posted.
His video concluded by warning potential foreign fighters to avoid Ukraine. He claimed it was a trap.
“People should stop coming to this place.” This is a trap. And they’re not letting you f***ing leave. You can leave the best way possible. […]You can do it in a car.
‘People who get out by vehicle have a better chance of hiding their f***ing kit in the back, doing whatever the f*** they can. If you’re a volunteer, don’t try to get out on foot. This is a disaster. This is a trap. “And I can verify this story with multiple people,” he said.
Two other Ukrainian foreign fighters have also recorded video clips in response to his claims.
One member of the Geogian Legion, Harrison Josefowitz, posted a response to Hoeft’s claims, calling them ‘completely false’. He said Hoeft – and another individual – did pass the Legion’s vetting process.
‘This is in direct retaliation to them being rejected through our vetting process,’ he said of Hoeft’s claims. “And that’s exactly why we have an vetting process to prevent these kind of mindset people getting here. We are grateful for your assistance.
He stated that Legion personnel have also crossed into Poland, with no difficulty getting their gear over the border.
Pictured: Hoeft, who has previously claimed he was called by the FBI warning him against going to fight in Ukraine
As Russia continues its attack on Ukraine, rescuers are working at the damaged site. This handout photo was released March 18th, 2022.
On the claim that the Legion’s base was hit, Josefowitz said: ‘Well I’m still here, and so are the multiple amounts of Brits that were there with us, and the Americans that were here with us.’ He said that the target base was only 30 km away.
Another foreign fighter, who identified himself as ‘Mike’ and referring to Hoeft just as ‘Henry’, said he had seen no issues with foreign passports at the border.
Another video, posted before entering Ukraine, showed Mike with Hoeft and a British man – suggesting two pair are well acquainted.
According to the Columbus Dispatch, ‘Mike’ is Mike Dunn – the former leader of the Last Sons of Liberty, a faction of the Boogaloo Boys.
In recent years, the far-right group has gained notoriety for attending Black Lives Matter protests armed with weapons such as AR-15 rifles. The Dispatch reported that Hoeft has distanced himself from the group when it ‘got all crazy’.
Hoeft, a resident of Frazeysburg in Ohio, has been recording his experiences in Ukraine on his TikTok channel, which has been deleted or banned since his posted his most recent video.
The FBI called him to advise against going to Ukraine after he telegraphed that intention.
As Russia continues its attack on Ukraine in Kyiv (Ukraine), rescuers are working next to the damaged residential building in this handout photo released March 18, 2022.
Hoeft stated that he told him that he in no way has the support of U.S. governments when he’s over there and that if I get into any trouble, he should just call the Embassy.
‘I get it. If Russia does harm to any of us they won’t be held responsible and they don’t want the conflict to get worse by claiming that they’re sending American troops over.
It is legal, but the U.S. government has advised people against travelling abroad to help in Ukraine.
U.S. Statement Department stated that the Ukrainians have displayed their courage, and were ready to use every weapon and resource available to them in order for themselves and others to be safe. Their bravery is something we applaud.
‘However our Travel Advisory is: U.S. Citizens should not travel into Ukraine. Those already in Ukraine should immediately leave if there are safe alternatives for ground transportation, whether commercially or privately.
Russia warns foreign fighters they’ll be treated like mercenaries. They ‘will be denied the rights accorded to lawful combatants by international humanitarian law’ Russia stated that they would be facing criminal or even worse charges should they be arrested in Ukraine.
Igor Konashenkov from Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that they “can expect to be charged as criminals” at the very least. He spoke on behalf of Russia’s state-owned TASS news media.
“We ask all foreign citizens planning to fight in Kyiv’s Nationalist Regime to think twice before proceeding.”