Three years of reporting, funded by our readers — become a member now and help us prepare for 2025.
Goal: 1,000 new members for our birthday. Gift a membership to your friend and help us prepare for what 2025 might bring.
Become a member Gift membership
Skip to content
Edit post

To combat Russia, Ukraine invites foreign fighters. Here’s how to apply

by Illia Ponomarenko March 5, 2022 4:30 PM 2 min read
A reservist with Ukraine's 130th Territorial Battalion takes aim during drills in Kyiv on Feb. 12, 2022. (The Kyiv Independent)
This audio is created with AI assistance

Ukraine, as it combats Russia's full-fledged invasion, is rapidly creating its own International Legion, a military force composed of international volunteers enlisting to help defend Ukraine.

Three days after the start of Russia's further invasion, on Feb. 27, Ukraine's leadership announced the opportunity for foreign volunteers, expecting the dire need for manpower to combat the offensive.

As soon as on Feb. 28, Ukraine's Defense Ministry had received "several thousand" applications from foreign nationals willing to join Ukraine in war.

According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine is expecting as many as 16,000 foreign volunteers to join the legion.

To make it easier for foreigners to enlist to defend Ukraine, on March 5, the government launched a website which provides guidelines for potential legionnaires.

In many ways, Ukraine's International Legion revives the legacy of the International Brigades, the much-romanticized volunteer formations fighting for the Republican Government during the Spanish Civil War in 1936-1938.

The legion is expected to be part of the country's Territorial Defense Force, a newly established branch of the Armed Forces. The legion will start with two newly formed battalions.

Reservists with Ukraine's 130th Territorial Battalion take a break during drills in Kyiv on Feb. 12, 2022. (Kostyantyn Chernichkin)

According to Ukraine's Presidential Administration, anyone, except for Russian nationals, supporting Ukraine's cause is welcome to try and enlist, whether they have combat experience or not.

To start with, one should approach a Ukrainian embassy or consulate in their country. It can be done by phone, email or in person. The website provides a complete list of Ukrainian diplomatic missions around the world that recruits can approach.

The Ukrainian diplomatic mission will provide a potential recruit with the necessary information on the equipment they should have. Next, a recruit will undergo an interview with a Ukrainian military attaché and receive a special visa.

The service with the International Legion is fully official and legal. With all visa arrangements completed, a recruit also needs to submit an application for voluntary contracted service with Ukrainian armed forces, following instructions from the Ukrainian defense attaché.

"It is recommended that legionnaires obtain combat gear, such as fatigues... or equipment, or a helmet, armored vests, and so on," the Presidential Office said on March 5.

"If necessary, embassy and consular service members will render assistance in terms of transportation."

Recruits should then make their way to Ukraine and sign a military service contract to actually take up duties with the legion. Foreign service members will be fully equal to Ukrainians in terms of their duties.

Notably, even beyond the legion, contract military service in Ukraine is fully legal for foreign nationals both in the Armed Forces and the National Guard.

Read also: Want to help Ukraine’s military as a foreigner? Here’s what you can do

Three years of reporting, funded by our readers.
Millions read the Kyiv Independent, but only one in 10,000 readers makes a financial contribution. Thanks to our community we've been able to keep our reporting free and accessible to everyone. For our third birthday, we're looking for 1,000 new members to help fund our mission and to help us prepare for what 2025 might bring.
Three years. Millions of readers. All thanks to 12,000 supporters.
It’s thanks to readers like you that we can celebrate another birthday this November. We’re looking for another 1,000 members to help fund our mission, keep our journalism accessible for all, and prepare for whatever 2025 might bring. Consider gifting a membership today or help us spread the word.
Help us get 1,000 new members!
Become a member Gift membership
visa masterCard americanExpress

News Feed

6:16 AM

North Korea ratifies defense treaty with Russia.

North Korea has formalized a mutual defense treaty with Russia, according to state media reports on Nov. 12. The agreement commits both nations to come to each other's aid in the event of an armed attack.
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.