The name is not a legion. Why still so few foreign volunteers are fighting for Ukraine

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How many foreigners are fighting on the Ukrainian side?

Foreigners have participated in the hostilities in Ukraine since 2014, but before the start of a full -scale war in February 2022, mainly as part of pro -Russian formations. Of the more than 17 thousand foreigners who fought from 2014 to 2019, less than 4 thousand people acted on the side of Ukraine (of which about 3 thousand are citizens of the Russian Federation).

On February 27, 2022, only a few days after the start of the Russian invasion, the set of territorial defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine began in the international legion of the territorial defense of the Armed Forces. Then the Ukrainian authorities stated that 20 thousand people from more than 50 countries were ready to join him. But in reality, the total number of volunteers as of 2023 by independent sources was estimated ( 1 , 2 ) at 1.5–2 thousand people - we are talking about those who really participate in hostilities. In addition, in the international legion, problems with the organization, command, supply and payments arose quite quickly.

The salaries of foreign volunteers are the same as those of Ukrainian citizens: 20 thousand hryvnias (about $ 480) in the rear, 50 thousand (about $ 1200) - in the combat zone, 120 thousand (about $ 3,000) per month - at the front, but contracts are designed for only six months, after which you can freely return to the citizen.

It turns out that the monetary allowance of the foreign military costs Ukraine in the amount of up to $ 6 million per month (with their number in an advanced two thousand people). Moreover, recently, the international legion and related units do not take active participation in battles, and foreigners are conducted by separate brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guard of Ukraine .

Judging by the publications in the Ukrainian and Western press ( 1 , 2 ), individual combat units at best have dozens of foreigners, if you do not take into account citizens from the post -Soviet space. A small number of foreigners involved in hostilities are indirectly confirmed by a relatively small number of necrologists found in open sources. According to the estimates of the pro -Russian OSINT -resource Lostarmour, less than 750 foreigners died throughout the war.