Poland ready to start training first volunteers from Ukrainian Legion

Poland is ready to start training the first few hundred Ukrainian volunteers who decide to join the Ukrainian Legion. 

As reported by Wnp.pl, the Polish National Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said that the country was ready to conduct training from 1 September, but there were not enough people willing to participate. 

"I understand that Ukraine has now taken measures to provide information, recruit and promote this process, so we are looking forward to the results," he said. 

When asked about the number of people willing to join the Ukrainian Legion, he said, "I have heard about one brigade before, but so far the number is much smaller – 300 people." 

Deputy Minister Paweł Zalewski reiterated that this week, the Ukrainian Consulate General in Lublin started recruiting volunteers for the Ukrainian Legion. 

"If the first group of several hundred volunteers is formed, we will immediately start training them," he said. 

Zalewski reiterated that Poland has trained more than 20,000 Ukrainian soldiers as part of the EU training programme and noted that the country is aware that Ukraine's defence capability is crucial for Poland's security. 

The deputy minister added that Warsaw will work to transfer "what is possible" to Ukraine and will also participate in international projects, including the purchase of ammunition for the Ukrainian defence forces. 

The Ukrainian Legion's recruitment centre in Poland was launched on 1 October, the Day of Defenders of Ukraine. 

The announcement of the opening coincided with the visit of Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha to Poland, where he took part in the Warsaw Security Forum and met with a number of Polish officials.

On 2 October, Polish National Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz reported that the number of Ukrainians who have volunteered for the Ukrainian Legion in Poland was extremely low.