President Zelensky appeals for foreign volunteers to come to Ukraine and enlist in a newly-formed 'International Legion' to fight the Russian invasion

February 27, 2022

President Zelensky appeals for foreign volunteers to come to Ukraine and enlist in a newly-formed 'International Legion' to fight the Russian invasion

Ukrainian Army soldiers pose for a photo as they gather to celebrate a Day of Unity in Odessa, Ukraine, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022.
Emilio Morenatti/AP

Ukraine is setting up an International Legion for foreigners to join the fight against Russia.
Foreigners can come and "fight side by side with the Ukrainians against the Russian war criminals."
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia's invasion was "the beginning of a war against Europe."

Ukraine is establishing an International Legion for foreigners who want to come and fight against Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday.

"Anyone who wants to join the defense of Ukraine, Europe and the world can come and fight side by side with the Ukrainians against the Russian war criminals," the statement on the presidential website said.

According to the Regulations on Military Service in the Armed Forces by Foreigners and Stateless Persons, approved in 2016, foreigners can volunteer for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Territorial Defense Forces

"A separate subdivision is being formed of foreigners entitled the International Legion for the Territorial Defense of Ukraine. There is no greater contribution which you can make for the sake of peace," the statement said.

Zelensky called for international solidarity against Russia and said in the statement that Russia's invasion was "the beginning of a war against Europe."

At his press briefing on Saturday morning, Zelensky said: Every friend of Ukraine who wants to join Ukraine in defending the country, please come over. We will give you weapons. It will be announced very shortly, how this can be done. Everyone who is defending Ukraine is a hero."

The foreign minister of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, said on February 27, via Twitter: "Foreigners willing to defend Ukraine and world order as part of the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine, I invite you to contact foreign diplomatic missions of Ukraine in your respective countries."

The Kyiv Independent reporter Illia Ponomarenko tweeted on Saturday that he had received over 100 emails from foreigners wanting to join the fight for Ukraine.