More Latvians head to Ukraine to join fighting amid crisis

Three Latvians have traveled to eastern Ukraine to join pro Russia rebels in the fighting there.

The Latvian residents, aged between 24 and 31 years old, are suspected of joining fighters of the Donetsk People's Republic. 

Heavy fighting between pro Russia rebels and government forces continues in the region. Russia has sent a large aid convoy containing food and water to the region. 

Meanwhile, the Latvians, who are members of the National Bolshevik party, are believed to have traveled to Russia before entering eastern Ukraine, Latvian newspaper Latvijas Avize reports citing German newspaper Die Zeit.

Latvian security police say they're aware of the identities of the men who traveled to the Ukraine whilst they have previously drawn the interest of the Security Police for their activities in the National-Bolshevik movement, as well as during the language referendum.

It's not the first time Latvian residents have traveled to the Ukraine. Members of Latvia’s For Native Language party headed to Ukraine earlier this month to join pro Russia rebels in the fighting. 

Meanwhile, Baltic officials are prepared to recognize the Donetsk and Luhansk ''republics'' as terrorist organizations, Baltic diplomats in Kiev have stated.

''The Latvian Foreign Ministry has already stated that it is prepared to do this,'' Latvian Ambassador to Ukraine Argita Daudze said during a press briefing in Kiev last week.

Estonian and Lithuanian ambassadors to Ukraine also said that they support recognizing the two ''republics'' as terrorist organizations.

The Ukrainian Prosecutor's Office declared the Donetsk and Luhansk ''republics'' as terrorist organizations on May 16.
This past July, 19 U.S. senators requested that U.S. President Barack Obama declare the Donetsk and Luhansk ''republics'' as terrorist organizations as well.