Tomi is one of the few Hungarian civilians who joined the Ukrainian armed forces voluntarily, for moral reasons – without any prior training whatsoever. He has been fighting since the spring of 2022 and has not seen his family for five years.

Volunteers from other countries are usually held in high regard at home; they are honoured and supported with money and equipment. Tomi has had to buy almost everything himself or with the help of other volunteers (apart from his basic kit: helmet, weapon and body armour).

The Ukrainian system – on the assumption that foreign volunteers have a supportive network behind them – does not fund their accommodation, food or equipment.

An interview with Tomi published on 24.hu, conducted by Boldizsár Győri in Zaporizhzhia in 2026.

A monthly allowance of 300 EUR would enable Tomi to focus on his work without having to worry about how he will pay his rent, what he will eat, or how he will replace any equipment he has used up.

• Accommodation (rent and utilities)
• Food
• Equipment necessary to protect human life: clothing, boots, bulletproof inserts/Kevlar, drone detector, night-vision device (these are consumable items and need to be replaced from time to time)

His current unit, the Krumpet Fire Support Team, is a specialist mortar unit within the 1st Company of the International Legion of the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence.

It operates as a specialist mortar fire support element during the company’s tactical combat operations. It is part of the International Legion defending Ukraine, which falls under the command structure of military intelligence.

The unit’s Instagram page