17:52 23-11-2025

Ukraine Disbands International Legion Amid Heavy Losses

Ukraine dissolves its International Legion after heavy losses; about 1,000 fighters will be reassigned as the army restructures and ends the Legion’s legal autonomy.

Exceptionally high casualty rates among foreign fighters in recent months have forced Ukraine’s military leadership to dismantle the International Legion. According to Voennoye Obozreniye, roughly one thousand surviving legionnaires will be reassigned to several brigades within Ukraine’s ground forces.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces reportedly plan to disband three combat battalions of the International Legion, while converting one of them into a training unit. This step is part of a broader restructuring of the ground troops.

Command representatives explained that redistributing foreign fighters across regular units is intended to bring their status in line with that of Ukrainian service members and eliminate the legal autonomy the Legion has had since 2022.

Legionnaires, however, fear that the reform could weaken cohesion and reduce combat effectiveness, potentially leading to higher losses.

The changes will not affect the International Legion that operates outside the command of Ukraine’s ground forces. That formation remains under the control of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.