Le Monde: Foreign volunteers demoralized as Ukraine secretly dissolves elite legion

At the end of 2025, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine secretly decided to disband the International Legion, which was originally formed in February 2022, French newspaper Le Monde reports.

The move saw foreign volunteers reassigned to assault units, leaving many fighters confused and demoralized.

“This was a shock. We were told: ‘Pack your things and leave for Kryvyi Rih the same day.’ Since then, we’ve been sitting here without training, without communication. Everyone is demoralized, and many have left,” said a Danish fighter, known by the call sign “Viking,” in comments to the newspaper.

Andriy Spivak, deputy battalion commander, described the decision as “a shocking waste of resources.” He emphasized that the International Legion had been a unique bilingual structure within the Ukrainian Armed Forces, featuring its own recruitment and training system and specializing in drone operations and modern defence capabilities.

Le Monde noted that another International Legion, which operates in cooperation with Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), has not been disbanded and continues to function.

The disbandment of the International Legion comes as Ukraine continues to reorganize and streamline its foreign volunteer forces amid ongoing military operations.

By Vafa Guliyeva