Ukrinform reports that the first unit of the Ukrainian Legion will begin training in Poland by the end of 2024.
The formation of the Ukrainian Legion was outlined in a bilateral security agreement between Ukraine and Poland. Under this arrangement, the Ukrainian Legion in Poland would be trained, armed, and prepared to defend Ukraine, with the Polish army responsible for training and Kyiv overseeing recruitment.
However, in October, the head of Poland’s Ministry of National Defense, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, stated that the number of Ukrainians who volunteered for the Ukrainian Legion in Poland was extremely low.
Later, representatives of a recruitment center established in early October at the Ukrainian consulate in Lublin reported that, within a month, they had received over 500 applications from Ukrainian citizens residing in 30 countries worldwide. Additionally, they noted applications from distant regions, including the UK, Ireland, Canada, and the USA.
The recruitment center stated that in 2024, the first volunteers will sign contracts with the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the Lublin center and will be sent to a Polish training range for further training.
Contracts can be signed for a set term (three years) or until the end of the particular period.
Training will not take place at the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade base but will instead be conducted by NATO instructors at designated locations.
Afterward, soldiers who require specialized training can undergo additional preparation at other military ranges.
According to the bilateral agreement, Ukraine will provide Legion volunteers with uniforms and medical supplies, while Poland will supply the necessary infrastructure, equipment, and weaponry during the training period.
It is still being decided whether Poland will fully equip this volunteer unit with its own hardware and weapons for its subsequent deployment to the combat zone in Ukraine.
“There was a preliminary agreement with the Polish side on this, but the matter is still under consideration,” said a center representative, noting that Ukraine hopes for maximum support from Warsaw on this issue.
Poland has emerged as a key ally for Ukraine amid the ongoing war with Russia, providing extensive military and humanitarian assistance.
Since the onset of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Poland has delivered at least 45 military aid packages valued at over €4 billion, including significant contributions of tanks and artillery.
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