Thousands of Ukrainians sign up for Polish volunteer legion
Many conscripted Ukrainians are located abroad. Since they don't want to fight, they are often told this. Thousands have reportedly registered for a volunteer legion in Poland. For Kiev, which has problems with recruitment in the country, this is an important message.
According to Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, thousands of Ukrainians have registered for a volunteer legion in Poland. This was reported by the Ukrainian news agency Interfax, citing statements made by Sikorski in Washington at the NATO summit. He reportedly said: "In Poland, we are starting the training of the first Ukrainian brigade, which consists of volunteers in Poland. We have up to a million Ukrainians of both genders, and several thousand of them have already registered for this military service."
Poland intends to take care of the training and equipment of the volunteers and then make the brigade available to Ukraine. "If every European country did the same, Ukraine would have several brigades," Sikorski reportedly said. The legion is to be the result of a Ukrainian-Polish security agreement. Foreigners can also register, it was reported.
Ukrainian government representatives have recently called on people to join the legion. Recruitment in the country is running slowly. However, it is of great importance to make up for losses, enable rotations, and in the future to have chances for counter-offensives to free territories from Russian invaders.
Ukrainians can return to Poland
"The draft evasion to the foreign lands is being discussed very emotionally and intensively in Ukraine," said NTV reporter Jürgen Weichert in May. However, there is understanding for people who set themselves aside from the country to avoid fighting. In principle, it is not allowed for Ukrainian conscripts to leave the country. Men are frequently arrested during their escape attempts, and some have even died in the process.
The reason for the high interest in the volunteer legion is not yet clear. One possible factor could be the prospect of good training and equipment, along with the associated higher survival chances. According to Foreign Minister Sikorski, Ukrainians from the volunteer legion will have the right to return to Poland after completing their service.
The Ukrainian news agency Interfax reported that Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski mentioned the training of a Ukrainian brigade in Poland, composed of volunteers, during the NATO summit. This brigade, consisting mainly of Ukrainians, is being equipped and trained by Poland with the aim of eventual deployment to Ukraine. Additionally, Sikorski stated that Ukrainians who serve in the volunteer legion will have the right to return to Poland after completing their military service.
