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Ukrainian Legion (Poland)

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Ukrainian Legion
Український легіон (Ukrainian)
FoundedJuly 2024
Country Poland
Allegiance Ukraine
BranchArmed Forces of Ukraine
TypeAbroad citizen volunteer legion

The Ukrainian Legion (Ukrainian: Український легіон, Polish: Legion Ukraiński) is a volunteer unit composed of Ukrainian citizens residing in Poland, established through cooperation of the Ukrainian and Polish governments, and planned to be deployed for Ukraine in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[1][2][3]

The unit is planned to be trained and recruited in Poland, with later deployment in the war.

History

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To encourage recruiting of Ukrainian citizens abroad, 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 the Russo-Ukrainian War.[4]

In mid July 2024, the Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski claimed that thousands of Ukrainians 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, although training already begun as of late July.[7]

In October 2024, the Polish minister of defense Władysław 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 in Lubin.[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]

Organization

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The units are planned to be trained by Western military advisors and have high quality standards, including modern military equipment financed by Poland.[5]

Poland, along Lithuania and other EU allies, will train the volunteers on Polish training grounds.[15]

All administrative work and recruitment is conducted by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, without Polish involvement.[16]

After conclusion of service in the warzone, volunteers would be allowed to return and stay in Poland.[16]

Outlook

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Poland has called on other European nations to provide similar schemes.[5]

The Czech Republic expressed interest in the scheme and will consider involvement in the future, according to a ministry spokesman.[17] Czech Defense Minister Jana Cernochova indicated that discussions are underway to also create a Ukrainian legion in Czechia, citing a large Ukrainian community in the country as a reason.[18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Defence minister urges Ukrainians throughout Europe to join new legion". Reuters.
  2. ^ "Zelensky: New volunteer unit - Ukrainian Legion - will be created in Poland". Ukrinform. 8 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Ukraine's Zelenskyy discusses further NATO support with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk". AP News. 8 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Poland and Ukraine to form a military unit from Ukrainians in Europe. Will it be effective?". Kyiv Independent. 2 August 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Thousands of Ukrainians in Poland have registered to join new Ukrainian Legion, says foreign minister". Notes from Poland. 11 July 2024. Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  6. ^ "ЗМІ: Український легіон у Польщі поки лишається ідеєю "на папері"" [MEDIA: Ukrainian Legion in Poland is still an idea “on paper”]. Європейська правда (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Poland begins training Ukrainian volunteer brigade". Politico. 11 July 2024. Archived from the original on 29 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  8. ^ "До Українського легіону хочуть приєднатися надто мало українців — Міноборони Польщі" [Too few Ukrainians want to join the Ukrainian Legion — Polish Defense Ministry]. New Voice (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  9. ^ "Recruitment Center for Ukrainian Legion Opens Up in Poland". Military. Honest news about the army, war and defense. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  10. ^ "First volunteers in Poland sign contracts with Ukrainian Legion as applications reach 600 – photos". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  11. ^ "Ukrainian volunteers in Poland sign contracts with Armed Forces". The Kyiv Independent. 12 November 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  12. ^ "More than 1,000 applications submitted to join Ukrainian Legion in Poland, ambassador says". The Kyiv Independent. 22 December 2024. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  13. ^ "First Ukrainian Legion unit trained in Poland deployed to Ukraine, ambassador says". The Kyiv Independent. 23 December 2024. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  14. ^ "First Ukrainian Legion volunteers arrive in Ukraine – Ukraine's Ambassador to Poland". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  15. ^ "Details of Poland's 'Ukrainian Legion' program". New Voice of Ukraine.
  16. ^ a b "Poland reveals details about recruitment and training for Ukrainian Legion". Ukrainska Pravda.
  17. ^ "Czechia shows interest in Poland's Ukrainian Legion project". Kyiv Independent. 30 July 2024. Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  18. ^ "Czech Republic considering formation of Ukrainian Legion". Euromaidan Press. 30 July 2024. Archived from the original on 29 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
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