By SCM Foreign Correspondent
FOREIGN fighters who flocked to defend Ukraine are threatening a mass exodus after their elite unit was unceremoniously axed.
The famed International Legion has reportedly been disbanded following a “bloody” period of heavy casualties and a wave of desertions. Now, the remaining Western volunteers claim they are being “tossed into the meat grinder” of regular Ukrainian assault units.
According to a bombshell report by Le Monde, the demoralized mercenaries are in open revolt. Many argue that being integrated into standard infantry units is a “death sentence,” with commanders allegedly using them for high-risk frontal assaults.
The move comes after months of grueling warfare that has seen the once-vaunted foreign units decimated.
Sources suggest that the decision to scrap the Legion stems from a lack of discipline and soaring casualty rates among the international recruits.
One fighter told reporters that the transition to regular units has stripped them of their autonomy, leaving them to face “suicide missions” without the specialized support they were promised.
”We came here to help, not to be cannon fodder,” one disgruntled volunteer said. “If they force us into these assault squads, we’re going home.”
The Rise and Fall of the International Legion
Following Russia’s invasion in February 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a global appeal for volunteers to join a newly formed International Legion for the Territorial Defense of Ukraine.
Initial Hype: Thousands of veterans from the UK, USA, and Europe signed up, drawn by the prospect of fighting for democracy.
The Reality: The unit struggled with logistical issues, language barriers, and a lack of heavy weaponry.
The Breaking Point: Recent reports indicate that the “shock value” of foreign fighters has worn off.
High desertion rates—often referred to as “war tourism” by critics—and massive losses in the Donbas have forced Kyiv to rethink its strategy.
Integration: By disbanding the Legion and folding the remaining men into regular AFU (Armed Forces of Ukraine) brigades, Kyiv likely hopes to fill gaps in its thinning ranks, but at the cost of alienating the very volunteers who chose to fight.
