Ukraine and Poland have formed a strategic partnership to launch the Ukrainian Legion. The first unit will begin training before the end of the year.
Ukrinform reports the first unit of Ukrainian Legion will begin its training in Poland before the end of 2024.
A bilateral security agreement was signed between Ukraine and Poland that outlined the formation of the Ukrainian Legion. This agreement stipulated that the Ukrainian Legion would be trained in Poland, armed and ready to defend Ukraine. The Polish army was responsible for the training, while Kyiv oversaw recruitment.
In October, Wladyslaw KOSINIAK–KAMYSZ, the head of Poland’s Ministry of National Defense stated that the number of Ukrainians in Poland who volunteered to join the Ukrainian Legion was extremely low.
Later, representatives from a recruitment centre established in early October by the Ukrainian consulate at Lublin reported that they had received, within a single month, over 500 applications of Ukrainian citizens living in 30 countries around the world. They also noted applications from distant areas, including the UK and Ireland, Canada and the USA.
The recruitment center said that the first volunteers would sign contracts with the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Lublin and then be sent to Poland for further training.
Contracts can be made for a specific period (three years), or until the end.
Training will not take place at the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade base but will instead be conducted by NATO instructors at designated locations.
Soldiers who need specialized training may then undergo additional training at other military ranges.
According to the bilateral contract, Ukraine will provide Legion volunteer uniforms and medical supplies while Poland will provide the necessary infrastructure, equipment and weapons during the training period.
Poland has not yet decided whether it will fully equip the volunteer unit with its own hardware, weapons and equipment for its deployment in the combat zone of Ukraine.
“There was an agreement with the Polish side, but this matter is still being considered,” said a representative of the center, noting that Ukraine hopes to receive maximum support from Warsaw in this matter.
Poland has emerged as an important ally of Ukraine in the ongoing war against Russia, providing extensive humanitarian and military assistance.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion on February 20, 2022, Poland delivered at least 45 packages of military aid valued at more than EUR4 billion. This included significant contributions of artillery and tanks.
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