ukraine allows foreign mercenaries to serve as officers

Ukraine has allowed foreign mercenaries to serve as officers in its military.

According to local media such as the Kyiv Independent on the 27th local time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law amendment on the 25th.

Foreigners participating in the war on Ukraine's side have so far been able to serve only as soldiers or non-commissioned officers.

Ukrainian forces created an "international army" and received foreign volunteers when Russian forces invaded in February 2022.

The International Corps consists of two units under the jurisdiction of the Army Ground Forces and two units under the General Intelligence Bureau of the Ministry of Defense.

More than 50 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Europe, have joined international forces, according to Ukrainian intelligence.

Russia's Defense Ministry, which tracks Ukrainian mercenaries, said 3,387 foreigners from 88 countries alone had participated in the war as of March, of which 5,962 were killed.