Our name is not Legion: Why so few foreign volunteers are fighting for Ukraine

Foreign nationals have taken part in Ukraine’s military efforts since 2014, though in the early stages of the conflict most foreign fighters supported pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk. Of the more than 17,000 foreign fighters active from 2014 to 2019, fewer than 4,000 were on Ukraine’s side — and these included around 3,000 Russian citizens.

On Feb. 27, 2022 — just days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion — Ukraine began recruiting for the International Legion of its Territorial Defense Forces. Ukrainian officials initially claimed 20,000 volunteers from over 50 countries had signed up. In reality, by 2023, independent sources estimated (1, 2) that only 1,500 to 2,000 were actively engaged in combat. Organizational and logistical challenges — including issues with command, supplies, and pay — soon plagued the Legion.

Foreign volunteers receive the same pay as Ukrainian troops: 20,000 hryvnias (about $480) per month in non-combat areas, 50,000 hryvnias (about $1,200) in combat zones, and up to 120,000 hryvnias (around $3,000) for front-line duty. Contracts typically last six months, after which foreign volunteers are free to leave the service if they so choose.

In recent months, the International Legion and affiliated units have largely withdrawn from active combat. Recruitment is now handled by specific brigades within the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guard. Reports from Ukrainian and Western media (1, 2) suggest that foreign personnel in these units number only in the dozens (especially when excluding recruits from post-Soviet states). The fact of limited foreign presence is indirectly supported by the relatively small number of public obituaries. According to estimates by pro-Russian open source intelligence (OSINT) site LostArmour, fewer than 750 foreign volunteers have died since the start of the war.