Ukrainian Legion volunteers abroad sign up for AFU in Lublin
The eighth group of volunteers of the Ukrainian Legion, made up of Ukrainian citizens living abroad, signed contracts with the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Lublin on Friday.
This was reported to Ukrinform by Petro Horkusha, a representative of the recruitment center at the Consulate General of Ukraine in Lublin.
“The signing of contracts by this group of volunteers is taking place in two stages: the first group signed contracts today, while the second will do so on Tuesday, March 24,” Horkusha noted.
He explained that some of the volunteers were unable to arrive in Lublin on Friday, as they are still finalizing personal and work-related matters.
According to him, several dozen people in total from this group will sign contracts with the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The representative of the recruitment center informed that Ukrainians who signed contracts with the AFU in Lublin on Friday came from various regions of Poland, with one person arriving from Norway. The second group is expected to include Ukrainians residing in Poland and Germany.
“The age of the volunteers in the group who signed contracts on Friday ranges from 18 to 45. Several of them decided to become artillery personnel, while the rest will serve as riflemen, as required by basic combined arms training,” Horkusha said.
He added that some of the volunteers expressed a desire to pursue a military career, including taking courses to obtain the initial officer rank of junior lieutenant.
The representative of the recruitment center also reported that after undergoing a military medical commission, as well as relevant psychological tests and checks, the volunteers will depart next Tuesday for one of the training grounds in Poland to undergo basic combined arms training.
As Ukrinform reported earlier, the Ukrainian Legion was created in July 2024, when President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk signed a security agreement in Warsaw. One of its provisions provided for the training of Ukrainian military units on Polish territory.
The recruitment center for volunteer Ukrainian citizens at the Consulate General of Ukraine in Lublin opened in early October 2024.
Volunteers of the Ukrainian Legion can sign contracts for one year (for those under 25), three years, or until the end of the special period. After signing contracts with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the soldiers are sent to one of the training grounds near Lublin for training. The training is conducted by instructors from NATO countries.
Under the agreement, the Ukrainian side provides the legion’s volunteers with military uniforms and medical supplies, while the Polish side provides infrastructure, equipment, and weapons for the duration of the training.
Photo provided by the Consulate General of Ukraine in Lublin