| Ukrainian Legion | |
|---|---|
| Український легіон (Ukrainian) | |
| Founded | July 2024 |
| Country |  Poland |
| Allegiance |  Ukraine |
| Branch | Armed Forces of Ukraine |
| Type | Abroad citizen volunteerlegion |
TheUkrainian Legion (Ukrainian:Український легіон,Polish:Legion Ukraiński) is avolunteer unit composed ofUkrainian citizens residing inPoland, established through cooperation of theUkrainian andPolish governments, and planned to be deployed forUkraine in theRussian invasion of Ukraine.[1][2][3]
The unit is planned to be trained and recruited in Poland, with later deployment in the war.
To encourage recruiting ofUkrainian citizensabroad, in early July 2024, the Polish and Ukrainian governments planned to establish a scheme to recruit Ukrainian citizens located in Poland for a new volunteer military formation to serve in theRusso-Ukrainian War.[4]
In mid July 2024, the Polish foreign ministerRadosław Sikorski claimed that thousands ofUkrainians in Poland have already registered to become part of the new formation,[5] however it later turned out that the minister was misinformed and there was no official registration at that time.[6] Discussions about the scope of the project are still ongoing, althoughtraining already begun as of late July.[7]
In October 2024, the Polish minister of defenseWładysław Kosiniak-Kamysz reported that the number of Ukrainian volunteers is too small and that the plans to form a brigade of several thousand men had not been realized.[8]
On 3 October 2024, a recruitment center for the Legion had been opened inLubin.[9]
By 12 November 2024, 600 people had applied for the legion.[10][11] By 22 December the number has increased to 1,000.[12]
On 24 December 2024, a Ukrainian ambassador stated that a unit of the legion were departed to Ukraine.[13][14]
In January 2025, the legion had over 1,300 applicants wanting to join, including women.[15]
The units are planned to be trained byWesternmilitary advisors and have high quality standards, including modern military equipment financed by Poland.[5]
Poland, alongLithuania and otherEUallies, will train the volunteers on Polish training grounds.[16]
All administrative work and recruitment is conducted by theArmed Forces of Ukraine, without Polish involvement.[17]
After conclusion of service in thewarzone, volunteers would be allowed to return and stay in Poland.[17]
Poland has called on other European nations to provide similar schemes.[5]
TheCzech Republic expressed interest in the scheme and will consider involvement in the future, according to a ministry spokesman.[18]Czech Defense MinisterJana Cernochova indicated that discussions are underway to also create a Ukrainian legion in Czechia, citing a largeUkrainian community in the country as a reason.[19]
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