Ukraine Approves Foreign Volunteers in International Legion to Hold Officer Positions

Ukrainian parliament has passed amendments to a law permitting foreign volunteers in Ukraine's International Legion to serve as officers, lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak announced on his Telegram channel on October 10.

Previously, these volunteers could only join as privates or sergeants.

"The main objective is to enable the recruitment of foreigners not just as soldiers and sergeants but also as officers," explained lawmaker Oleksii Honcharenko in an earlier Telegram post.

Earlier in August, it was announced that the Ukrainian Parliament has passed a new law that allows citizenship to be granted to foreign nationals currently defending Ukraine against Russian aggression, establishing a legal framework for the process.

The International Legion was established at the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, attracting individuals from over 50 countries, including military veterans from the US, UK, Australia, and various European nations, according to Ukraine's military intelligence.

Initially formed within the Territorial Defense Forces, the unit has since been integrated into the Armed Forces, with certain units now reporting to the military intelligence agency (HUR).