Warsaw just made it legal to fight for Kyiv. It used to carry five years in Polish prison

Poles can now serve in Ukraine's army without prior government authorization. President Karol Nawrocki signed a law on 27 March granting amnesty to those citizens who fight on Kyiv’s side, according to the Polish Presidential Office, the PAP news agency reports.

Polish law had long required citizens to obtain permission from the Ministry of National Defense before serving in a foreign military. Doing so without authorization carried a prison sentence of between three months and five years.

Law goes back to Donbas war

The new law covers service from 6 April 2014, when fighting began in Donbas between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists, to the date the legislation enters into force, which will be three months after its publication. It applies both to Poles currently fighting and to those who have already served, including anyone previously convicted under the old rules.

Under the new rules, that penalty no longer applies to those who served in Ukraine's armed forces.

To qualify for immunity, Poles must submit a written statement to the defense minister within six months of returning to Poland, specifying the dates and location of their service. Those who fail to do so remain subject to criminal liability.

Only opposition came from pro-Russian far-right factions

The bill was first introduced by MPs from the ruling centrist Civic Coalition in December 2024 and passed the Sejm on 13 February with 406 votes in favor out of 429 cast, 4 against, 19 abstentions.

Both the ruling coalition and the main opposition party, Law and Justice (PiS), voted for it. Only the far-right Confederation and KKP factions, both critical of Ukraine, held back.

The bill's sponsors were explicit that the legislation is not an encouragement to join Ukraine's military.

Their stated goals are narrower: to register the combat experience of Poles who already fought, to prevent their criminal prosecution, and to gather information useful for Poland's own defense planning.

Precise figures on the number of Polish nationals who have served in Ukraine are unavailable. Polish military news service MilMag has confirmed 23 deaths of Poles fighting on Ukraine's side.