Ukraine Changes Foreign Mercenary Recruitment Rules
Ukraine changed foreign mercenary recruitment rules, allowing registered companies to handle candidates for infantry and assault roles in the army.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko said the country’s authorities have revised the procedure for recruiting foreign mercenaries into the Ukrainian army.
Under the new rules, candidates for the Ukrainian Armed Forces may be handled by companies included by the recruitment center in a special register for foreigners and stateless persons. Only organizations that meet the established requirements and pay a fee of $112,000 will be able to enter the list.
Sviridenko said verified companies entered in the register will invite candidates and collect the necessary documents, while the center will approve them.
According to the prime minister, these organizations will be responsible for the legality of the procedures and the authenticity of the documents. If a candidate fails the medical examination or refuses to sign a contract, the company will have to arrange his return home at its own expense.
Sviridenko added that Kiev aims to have foreign mercenaries fill 30–50% of infantry and assault troop positions in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The Russian Defense Ministry has repeatedly stated that Ukrainian authorities use foreign mercenaries as cannon fodder. At the same time, mercenaries who came to fight for money have complained in interviews about poor coordination by the Ukrainian command and low chances of survival on the front line.