Ukraine's National Guard has established a centralized recruitment center to streamline the enlistment of foreign volunteers, according to Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi. The initiative aims to accelerate the process for international recruits to join combat units and bolster Ukraine's defense forces.
The establishment of a dedicated recruitment center for foreign volunteers signals Ukraine's ongoing need for military personnel and its strategic effort to bolster its defense capabilities through international support amidst the ongoing conflict.
The Ukrainian National Guard has established a new, centralized recruitment center to facilitate the enlistment of foreign volunteers, according to an announcement by Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi on September 18, 2026. The center is designed to streamline the process for international recruits, from initial interviews and checks to training, with the goal of providing combat units with necessary reinforcements more quickly.
Koretskyi stated that the center will coordinate contract service for foreign volunteers and accompany them through all stages of enlistment. He emphasized that recruiting foreign volunteers is a state priority aimed at scaling efforts to attract individuals willing to defend Ukraine alongside its citizens.
Ukraine has been increasingly relying on foreign volunteers to compensate for losses and supplement domestic manpower. In June, former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov indicated a goal to fill 30% to 50% of assault and infantry positions with foreigners. The National Guard, which operates under Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs, includes prominent units such as the 1st Azov Corps and 2nd Khartiia Corps.
Additionally, on August 28, Koretskyi announced that the Ukrainian government had approved a draft law intended to provide foreign and stateless nationals who have served in the Ukrainian military with extended time to formalize their residency status post-contract.