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Recruits From 72 Countries Join Ukraine’s Expanding Armed Forces
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
The Armed Forces of Ukraine currently include volunteers from 72 countries, with nearly 40% hailing from South America. The figure reflects a growing international presence in Ukraine’s defense effort, according to Kostiantyn Milevskyi, an officer responsible for coordinating foreign enlistment in the Ukrainian military.
In an interview with hromadske on August 4, Milevskyi noted that foreign recruitment has significantly increased since the early days of Russia’s full-scale invasion. While only 100 to 150 foreigners were joining the ranks each month in 2022, that number has now reached approximately 600.
“We can say that the percentage of foreign nationals in the Armed Forces of Ukraine has increased. This has been influenced by the launch of our Foreign Recruitment Center,” Milevskyi said, adding that the Ukrainian government now covers travel costs for incoming international volunteers.
According to hromadske, more than 8,000 foreign nationals have already joined Ukraine’s Ground Forces, and the overall number across all military branches is likely at least twice as high, he added.
For operational security, the military does not disclose full details on countries of origin. However, Milevskyi confirmed that a large number of volunteers have arrived from Colombia, with several dedicated units formed from Colombian nationals.
According to him, the motivations vary. Many have prior military experience and see Ukraine as an opportunity to apply and sharpen their skills, while financial incentives also play a role.
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“They’ve openly admitted many times that the level of pay in the Armed Forces of Ukraine is currently much higher than in their home militaries. But these are also people with military experience, and they want to continue doing what they’ve been trained for—further developing their skills here. And, of course, to earn a decent wage,” Milevskyi said.
Earlier, the Ukrainian government implemented a simplified procedure for issuing temporary residence permits to foreign nationals supporting the country’s defense against Russian aggression, including those volunteering in various roles.
Under the new resolution, the updated rules clearly define the grounds for obtaining temporary residence status. The regulation extends additional protections to foreign volunteers who provide logistical, tactical, medical, and other forms of assistance to Ukraine’s Armed Forces.
