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Delay in recruitment for Ukrainian Legion despite Poland's preparedness

09.09.2024 18:55
Poland was ready to begin training volunteers for the Ukrainian Legion starting August 1, but Ukraine has yet to initiate recruitment, according to Monday's edition of "Dziennik Gazeta Prawna" (DGP). So far, only a technical agreement on the matter has been signed.
Dergachi, northeastern Ukraine, September 8, 2024. A place of a Russian military attack in a town in the Kharkiv region. As a result of the shelling, one person was killed and 10 were injured.
Dergachi, northeastern Ukraine, September 8, 2024. A place of a Russian military attack in a town in the Kharkiv region. As a result of the shelling, one person was killed and 10 were injured.(amb) PAP/Mykola Kalyeniak

As reported by Polskie Radio 24, in July 2024, during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Poland, the creation of the Ukrainian Legion was announced.

The unit was originally intended to consist of Ukrainian volunteers currently residing in Poland and other European countries, with training provided by the Polish military, which has significant experience in this area, having already trained about 20,000 Ukrainian soldiers.

Despite earlier announcements, formal recruitment for the Legion has not yet started. According to "DGP," Radosław Sikorski was misinformed about the number of registered Ukrainians, as the information referred only to preliminary inquiries, not formal registration.

The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the ultimate responsibility for organizing recruitment lies with the Ukrainian side.

Two months later, Kyiv has yet to take formal action on the matter, and previous reports of thousands of applicants were incorrect.

Despite signing a technical agreement defining the roles of both countries, no information about recruitment has appeared on Ukrainian consulate websites.

As reported by the Polish state news agency PAP, Ukrainian Ambassador to the Czech Republic Vasyl Zvarych clarified that earlier discussions referred only to preliminary inquiries, not formal registration.

"DGP" noted that, as of the publication of the article, it had not received a response from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense on the matter.

Source: PAP/Polskie Radio 24/DGP

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