Back Internasionale Legioen van die Territoriale Verdedigingsmag van Oekraïne Afrikaans الفيلق الدولي للدفاع الإقليمي عن أوكرانيا Arabic Lexón Internacional de Defensa Territorial d'Ucraína AST Інтэрнацыянальны легіён тэрытарыяльнай абароны Украіны Byelorussian Міжнародны легіён тэрытарыяльнай абароны Ўкраіны BE-X-OLD Чуждестранен легион за териториална отбрана на Украйна Bulgarian ইউক্রেনের আঞ্চলিক প্রতিরক্ষার আন্তর্জাতিক বাহিনী Bengali/Bangla Mezinárodní legie územní obrany Ukrajiny Czech Internationale Legion der Territorialverteidigung der Ukraine German Legión Internacional de Defensa Territorial de Ucrania Spanish
 | This article needs to be updated. (February 2024) |
| International Legion | |
|---|---|
| Інтернаціональний легіон | |
&sq=Russo-Ukrainian_War&lang=en&file=File:International_Legion_of_Territorial_Defense_of_Ukraine_emblem.svg) Emblem of the International Legion for the Defence of Ukraine | |
| Founded | 27 February 2022 |
| Allegiance |  Ukraine |
| Branch |  Territorial Defense Forces Main Directorate of Intelligence |
| Type | Infantry and special operations |
| Role | Anti-tank warfare Clandestine operation Cold-weather warfare Counterintelligence Direct action Force protection HUMINT Internal security Irregular warfare Long-range penetration Military intelligence Patrolling Raiding Reconnaissance Special operations Urban warfare |
| Size | |
| Motto(s) | "Join the Brave" & "F"[3] |
| Anniversaries | March 7[4] |
| Engagements | |
| Website | |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Colonel Ruslan Miroshnichenko |
The International Legion of Territorial Defence of Ukraine,[note 1] or the Ukrainian Foreign Legion,[8] is a military unit of the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine composed of foreign volunteers. It was created on 27 February 2022 by the Ukrainian government at the request of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to fight against the Russian invasion of the country.[9]
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that by 6 March 2022 more than 20,000 volunteers from 52 countries had enlisted to fight for Ukraine; several thousand more reportedly joined after the announcement. Kuleba withheld further demographic details, citing that several nations forbid their citizens from fighting for foreign governments. However, a New York Times investigation in March 2023 found that there may be only 1,500 members in the organization, including many who have engaged in fraud and stolen valour.[2]
As of February 2024[update], the legion includes people from 60 countries.[10]
- ^ "'The Romantics Are Gone': A Year Later, Many Foreign Fighters Have Left Ukraine". 23 February 2023.
- ^ a b Scheck, Justin; Gibbons-Neff, Thomas (25 March 2023). "Stolen Valor: The U.S. Volunteers in Ukraine Who Lie, Waste and Bicker". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ https://ildu.com.ua/ [bare URL]
- ^ "DIU International Legion celebrates its anniversary, calling on volunteers to join ranks — online.ua". 7 March 2024.
- ^ "Inside Ukraine's International Legion". 11 October 2022.
- ^ Brown, Chris (2 May 2023). "2 Canadians killed in Ukraine's bloodiest battle in Bakhmut". CBC News. Archived from the original on 14 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ "Foreign fighters leave Ukraine due to witnessing atrocities". YouTube.
- ^ McCready, Alastair (29 March 2022). "Returning Soldiers Reveal the Dark Side of Life in the Ukrainian Foreign Legion". VICE.
But while commending the "impressive" Ukrainian resistance and everything achieved by the Foreign Legion in a short space of time, Le also described a lack of structure and leadership in its ranks. This is something he says has resulted in unnecessary casualties, and could be remedied by embedding a Ukrainian officer in every unit.
- ^ Grasmeder, Elizabeth M.F. (2022). "Lessons from Finland for Ukraine and its Foreign Legion". War on the Rocks. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
- ^ "Ukraine war: Meet the Georgian Legion joining the fight against Russia's invasion".
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