The BBC learned about the disbandment of the "International Legions" of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

All four "International Legions" in the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), created at the beginning of the conflict, will be disbanded by the end of 2025. This is reported by the BBC Ukrainian service with reference to the plan of the General Staff of Ukraine.

"It's no secret that the assault troops are largely staffed by criminals, people with criminal records. <...> That is, we will actually have a penal battalion on the one hand, and foreigners on the other," the newspaper quoted one of the legion members as saying.

According to the BBC, foreign military personnel will continue to serve in assault units. The command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that the reform is an evolutionary process, and the legions "have already played their role." The press service of the Army noted that foreign contractors will be able to serve in accordance with their profession and experience, and their combat skills will be integrated into those units where they will bring the greatest benefit.

At the same time, the decision caused discontent in the legions themselves. Some of their representatives fear that transfer to assault units, which, in their opinion, are partially formed from people with criminal records, may lead to a reduction in the flow of foreign volunteers to the Armed Forces.

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Vasyl Prozorov, a former employee of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), reported on the same day that the losses of foreign mercenaries fighting on the side of Ukraine could reach about 10,000 people over the entire period of the special military operation. The expert also noted that foreign military personnel serve not only in a separate foreign legion, but also in military intelligence units, ground forces, mechanized and amphibious assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

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