The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
The International Legions are not disappearing but transforming to become stronger.
This was stated in a message by the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
According to the Ground Forces, these changes allow foreigners to receive career growth and strengthen their capabilities through new weapons and military equipment.
Instead of remaining separate “light” battalions, they are being integrated into effective and experienced units of the Ground Forces.
This is a logical step because legionnaires are servicemen of special-purpose battalions within the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Assault operations and counter-sabotage missions are exactly what the legion personnel have been engaged in since the first days of their formation.
According to the message, integration into other units does not reduce their level; on the contrary, it enhances their capabilities, provides better protection on the battlefield, and includes reinforcement with unmanned systems, artillery, and aerial reconnaissance. Foreign units gained access to the resources and logistics of regular formations.
“The combat tasks for the personnel of the international legions remain unchanged. The warriors continue to operate in the same directions — in the same areas, under the same conditions. The only difference is the increased support, which significantly enhances their combat resilience”, — the Ground Forces noted.
The legion soldiers have also received opportunities for development and retraining — as UAV operators, artillerymen, scouts, or rear specialists according to their skills.
According to the message, most foreigners have not only stayed in service but are recruiting new colleagues from abroad into their new units because they see prospects for development rather than threats.
Meanwhile, a public debate continues about legion integration, which some try to portray as liquidation.
“During an internal review, certain violations were found in the organization of accounting and management processes, which required response and regulation. Some public comments that appeared afterward do not reflect the full picture and may be linked to the reluctance of certain officials to lose their functions or positions after the decisions made”, — the message said.
They stressed that the measures taken aim exclusively at increasing transparency, accountability, and combat capability of the units, not at stopping the participation of foreigners in the Ground Forces.
“We value every foreign volunteer and remove barriers between our citizens and foreigners. Representatives of other countries who defend our land have exactly the same rights, social guarantees, and — most importantly — the same level of support and provision as Ukrainian soldiers”, — the Ground Forces concluded.
