Underground U.S. groups funnel fighters, medics to Ukraine

Members of the Territorial Defence Forces and volunteers place anti-tank obstacles at a checkpoint, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, at the Independence Square in central Kyiv, Ukraine March 3, 2022. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

(Reuters) - A former U.S. military linguist is arming volunteers with Russian phrases like "put your weapon down" before they head to Ukraine to fight. Another U.S. veteran said he was in Ukraine linking volunteers to groups on the ground.

They are among organizers from three U.S. online networks Reuters spoke to this week that are creating underground pipelines of military, medical and other volunteers for Ukraine.