The history of the International Legions for Defence of Ukraine goes back more than three years, consisting of hundreds of combat engagements and challenging missions, participation in the liberation of dozens of settlements, daily combat work and many striking victories. The International Legions for Defence of Ukraine operate in the form of separate battalions subordinated to the Land Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. During this time, representatives from more than 75 countries have fought side by side with Ukrainians against Russian invaders in the ranks of the International Legions.
Foreign volunteers and their families keep in touch on social media. In the information space, you can find many communities that position their connection with the legions. In addition, the symbols of the International Legion for Defence of Ukraine in messengers and social networks can be used by the enemy and fraudsters, which they often do. There are even websites and web pages created using the Legion’s symbols or similar ones, hosted by third parties without the participation of the International Legion Command. Often, such resources are created by the enemy to collect personal data and other intelligence information under the guise of recruitment or other activities.
In order not to risk your data and other sensitive information, you should use only official resources and web pages when joining the Legion.
The Command of the International Legions for Defence of Ukraine informs that the only specialized official resource for recruiting foreign volunteers is the website https://ildu.mil.gov.ua/.
The domain name mil.gov.ua indicates that the site belongs to the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. Such a resource cannot be created by private individuals or commercial organizations. All information that enters this website is protected by Ukrainian state cybersecurity units. The integrity and confidentiality of such information are guaranteed by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.
To join one of the International Legions for Defence of Ukraine, you need to:
Step 1:
Fill out an application form at https://ildu.mil.gov.ua/
Step 2:
The recruiter will contact you and invite you for an interview.
Step 3:
Arrive to Ukraine. At the Shehyni checkpoint on the Ukrainian-Polish border, find a recruitment centre of the International Legions for Defense of Ukraine.
Step 4:
From the checkpoint, a bus takes volunteers to the recruiting centre. There, the candidate for service is usually assigned to a specific unit, and a personal file is formed.
Step 5:
From the recruiting centre, the candidate goes by military transport to the training site. Here, the candidate and the instructors check the candidate’s physical fitness, knowledge, skills and basic abilities. A contract is signed. From that moment on, the serviceman is provided with the norms of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (salary, food, uniform, equipment, social guarantees, etc.). From the date of signing the contract, including during the training period, the serviceman receives the salary of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (UAH 20,200 or more) but does not receive payments for performing combat missions. The volunteer undergoes basic general military training (up to a month and a half, depending on his or her experience). After that, with the participation of instructors and commanders, the future place of service and specific duties of the volunteer are determined, taking into account the wishes of the legionnaire.
Step 6:
In the combat zone, pre-training and combat coordination with the team takes place. From the day of arrival in the combat zone, the legionnaire receives an additional remuneration of UAH 30 thousand, in addition to the salary, based on the number of days spent in the area.
Step 7:
You are ready to fight. When performing combat missions, a serviceman receives an additional remuneration of UAH 100 thousand per month, based on the number of days of combat missions. Also, for every 30 days spent on the front line of combat operations, a serviceman receives an additional bonus of UAH 70 thousand.
Step 8:
You are a Legionnaire of the free world, one of the best people on this planet, who defend peace, goodness, justice, democratic values and our common future with your weapons and courage. To our and your freedom!
The International Legions for Defence of Ukraine is a unique fighting brotherhood of warriors – knights united by common values and experience, where the individuality and uniqueness of each are respected. Only a small part of foreign volunteers sign a contract for the sake of monetary payments. For more than three years of participation in active combat operations, the legions have earned great fame and gained a strong reputation.
The experience of serving in one of the International Legions is respected by most military, law enforcement and security organizations in the world. Many legionnaires decide to stay in Ukraine after defeating the Russian invaders. But wherever the veteran goes after the end of his contract, the brotherhood of the bravest men in the free world, his own unique combat experience and the reputation of the International Legions for Defence of Ukraine will forever remain with him – in the form of honour and respect under peaceful skies, support and encouragement – in any circumstances.
Sincerely yours
Command of the International Defence Legions of Ukraine
