MP asks Defense Ministry to explain disbandment of 2nd International Legion

Member of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence Iryna Friz (from the European Solidarity faction) has asked Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov to explain the decision to disband the Second International Legion.

"I receive appeals from servicemen regarding the decision to disband the Second International Legion and transfer personnel to assault units, so I sent an appeal to the Defense Minister with a request to clarify the technical nuances of the process and the strategic goal," Friz told Interfax-Ukraine on Monday.

According to her, the military draws attention to the key problems that arise in connection with such a reorganization: in particular, the inconsistency of the tasks that will be set in the new unit, their training and qualifications, as well as the inability to effectively implement operations and tactics that have been developed during the existence of the legion.

"Among the problems voiced by the military personnel is the language barrier, because in the International Legion all commanders were bilingual, and high-quality communication and mutual understanding in war is the preservation of the lives of soldiers. They also emphasize the deceived expectations of volunteers who were supposed to serve in a separate unit, and the decrease in morale. According to the military personnel, the transfer of part of the personnel led to 'slump' in certain positions and losses among the personnel," the MP said.

According to Friz, this decision not only raises questions about the future integration of foreigners into these units, but also encourages volunteers to terminate their contracts due to disappointment with the decisions of the military leadership.

"As of today, the decision to liquidate the Second International Legion has significantly reduced the flow of foreign volunteers into the Armed Forces and led to the termination of contracts by foreign volunteers," the MP said.

She also added that the Ukrainian army is currently in critical need of motivated servicemen, so state policy must be stable and ensure conditions of service for volunteers from different countries of the world.