The 'Ukrainian Legion' has attracted only 300 volunteers – Poland

According to Warsaw, the expat troops were expected to return after military training and fight for their country

Not enough Ukrainians living abroad have volunteered to undergo military training to return home and fight for their country, Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz told journalists on Friday. Only about 300 people have agreed to join in almost three months, the minister said.

The formation of what was dubbed the “Ukrainian Legion” was first announced by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Vladimir Zelensky in early July.

The unit was founded to “unite” According to local media, Ukrainian volunteer troops live permanently in Poland, along with troops from other EU countries. They would then be trained by the Polish army and sent to fight for their country.

At the time, volunteers were promised better training and equipment provided by Kiev’s Western backers, as well as some legal and financial benefits from Warsaw. Polish officials initially claimed that thousands had signed up to join the unit.

Kosiniak-Kamysz said training was supposed to start from September 1, but there simply weren’t enough people to work with. “I heard about 300 people,” the minister said when asked how many volunteers had expressed a desire to join the legion. According to Kosiniak-Kamysz, the “goal” size of the unit “one brigade.” A standard NATO brigade consists of approximately 5,000 men.

The EU state tells the Ukrainians to go home and fight

According to the minister, the situation with the legion could improve now that Kiev has been captured “actions related to the information, recruitment and promotion of this process.” The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense announced earlier this week that it will set up a recruitment center for the legion in the Polish city of Lublin. The Ukrainian consulate has reportedly started recruiting volunteers in the city.

More than four million Ukrainians who have fled their country since 2022 have enjoyed temporary protection status in EU countries since July this year. Adult men make up just over a fifth of the total, according to data from the bloc’s statistics agency Eurostat.

Kiev launched a general mobilization shortly after the outbreak of the conflict with Moscow, but has struggled to replenish troops on the battlefield. The draft campaign was also marred by widespread evasion and allegations of corruption.

Ukraine has tried to bring conscript-eligible men back to the country by denying them consular services abroad and the ability to update their documents. Senior Ukrainian officials have also called on Western countries to send aid “draft dodgers” back home.

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