Poland: Ambassador Details Number of Volunteers“>Ukrainian Legion Volunteers Arrive: Poland Sees First Arrivals
The first volunteers from the "Ukrainian Legion," a fledgling squad forming in Poland, have begun their journey to Ukraine. This was revealed by Ukraine’s ambassador to Poland, Vasyl Bodnar, in a Radio Free Europe interview. The envoy praised the initiative’s progress but noted that improvements could be made for efficiency.
These initial Ukrainian legionnaires will sign contracts with the country’s armed forces on January 10, 2025, before proceeding to a Polish training ground for their preliminary drills. "Ukrainian Legion" is a voluntary unit under formation, comprising foreign-based Ukrainians eager to contribute to their homeland’s defense.
The diplomatic community is actively publicizing this program across the European Union and beyond, although exact volunteer numbers remain unconfirmed. The unit’s training will subsequently shift to Ukrainian military ranges.
Last November, a cohort of Ukrainian expatriates residing abroad signed up for this initiative in Lublin, kicking off their preliminary training at a Polish military base. Most incoming requests hail from Poland and Czech Republic, but applications also arrive from the UK, Ireland, Canada, and the USA. As of December 22, over a thousand Ukrainians had expressed interest in joining.