Ukrainian Legion

Ukrainian Legion (Ukrainian: Український Легіон) is a Ukrainian civic patriotic organization established in July 2014 with the stated aim of protecting Ukraine from armed aggression and helping its members realize their rights and freedoms. It operates as a public organization (hromadska orhanizatsiya) rather than a commercial company, but it maintains a branded identity, a public-facing website, and a structured training program marketed to civilians, veterans, and reservists. Its activities are concentrated in Ukraine, with branches in Lviv, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, and Kharkiv. The organization's core offering is military and pre-military training. Its curriculum includes an introductory "military drill" (vyshkil) known as the young fighter course, basic legionnaire training, tactical medicine, communications, tactics, topography, firearms handling, engineering and sapper work, and aerial reconnaissance. It also runs field exercises, participates in territorial defense drills, and organizes youth patriotic education. The Legion describes itself as forming a trained military reserve for the country's defense without waiting for decisions from political leaders, and it positions its courses as useful both for future military service and for civilian life. Ukrainian Legion has been involved in volunteer and charitable work, including fundraising for army needs and purchasing military equipment for units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (ZSU) and Territorial Defense Forces (TRO). Since 2015 it has been part of the Council of Volunteers at the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, and since 2016 part of the public union "Federation of ATO Participants of Kyiv Region" at the Kyiv Regional State Administration. Since December 2016 the head of the organization has been Oleksii Sannikov. The organization has received various commendations from state and local bodies, including the Kherson Regional State Administration, the Main Information and Telecommunication Node of the General Staff of the ZSU, and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. As a brand, Ukrainian Legion is not a commercial product line but a civic-military training and volunteer platform. Its public identity is built around the slogan "If you want peace, prepare for war" and the idea of the "legionnaire" as a responsible citizen-defender. It recruits through its website, where prospective members fill out a form and attend introductory training. The organization is distinct from other entities sharing the "Ukrainian Legion" name, such as the Ukrainian Legion in Poland or the International Legion of the TRO of Ukraine.

Ukrainian Legion was founded in July 2014 as a military-patriotic organization, at a time when Ukraine was facing armed aggression in its eastern regions. One of its co-founders was Viktor Hurniak, who later joined the "Aidar" battalion as a volunteer in September 2014. The organization was established as a civic public organization with the goal of protecting Ukraine from armed aggression and jointly realizing the rights and freedoms of its members. In October 2015, Ukrainian Legion, together with other organizations engaged in military and pre-conscription training, became a co-founder of the Movement for the Promotion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine ("Rukh 100"). Since 2015 the organization has been part of the Council of Volunteers at the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, and since 2016 it has been part of the public union "Federation of ATO Participants of Kyiv Region" at the Kyiv Regional State Administration. From the autumn of 2015, the organization placed significant emphasis on conducting professional training to support territorial defense. Twice a year, in various locations near Kyiv, it organized exercises addressing different aspects of territorial defense. In 2016, the "Rukh 100. Tryzub" exercises involved not only movement activists but also representatives of law enforcement and services of the Darnytskyi district of the capital. Evacuation of conditionally wounded persons to city clinical hospital No. 1 was practiced. In July 2016, with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, the annual international competition "Nashchadky Vilnykh" (Descendants of the Free) was founded, held jointly with the public organization "Civil Corps Azov" and aimed at national-patriotic education of youth and exchange of experience. In December 2016, Oleksii Sannikov became the head of the organization. In May 2019, Ukrainian Legion specialists provided partner assistance in organizing and conducting training field camps for schoolchildren in the Loziv district of Kharkiv region. In the course of joint training with youth and civilians, the Legion's specialists practiced skills and specializations in tactical medicine, communications, tactics, topography, firearms training, weapons handling, engineering training and sapper work, and aerial reconnaissance. In early October 2019, the first library of veteran books in Ukraine was opened in the premises of the Ukrainian Legion public organization, located in the Ukrainian State Center for National-Patriotic Education. The project "Veteran Tent Space" was initiated during book and literary events "Book Arsenal" in Kyiv, "Book Space" in Dnipro, and the Publishers' Forum in Lviv. The library collected books about the Russian-Ukrainian war written by veterans and military personnel themselves. In late June 2020, the "Rukh 100 — Sukhovii" exercises took place near the village of Liutizh in Kyiv region, with the participation of representatives of member organizations of the Movement for the Promotion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine. About 200 patriotically minded citizens of Ukraine and reservists of territorial defense brigades and the first-line operational reserve took part in the competitions. In early July 2021, exercises for the defense of the Ukrainian capital, "Mizhrichchia-2021," were held near the village of Novosilky in Kyiv region. On October 24, 2021, the organization's specialists conducted master classes at the open shooting event GUN OPEN DAY'2021, annually organized by the Ukrainian Association of Gun Owners. On November 18, 2021, the sergeant staff of the "Zakarpatskyi Legion" took part in a 10-kilometer marathon relay dedicated to the Day of the Sergeant of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In April 2021, due to Russian troops being at the border with Ukraine and in conditions of possible provocations and aggression from Russia, the Kharkiv branch of the organization, together with other public and political forces of the Kharkiv region, took care of organizing the defense headquarters of Kharkiv region. Specialists of the Ukrainian Legion, with the support of the Ministry of Defense, conducted introductory lectures on shooting and military-patriotic training. The organization continues to operate as a volunteer and training platform, fundraising for army needs and purchasing military equipment for units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Territorial Defense Forces.

• 2021

  Kharkiv branch helps organize the defense headquarters of Kharkiv region amid Russian troop buildup.

• 2021

  "Mizhrichchia-2021" exercises for the defense of Kyiv held near Novosilky, Kyiv region.

• 2021

  Specialists conduct master classes at GUN OPEN DAY'2021.

• 2021

  Sergeant staff of "Zakarpatskyi Legion" participate in 10 km marathon relay dedicated to the Day of the Sergeant of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

• 2020

  "Rukh 100 — Sukhovii" exercises held near Liutizh, Kyiv region, with about 200 participants.

• 2019

  Specialists assist in organizing training field camps for schoolchildren in Loziv district, Kharkiv region.

• 2019

  First library of veteran books in Ukraine opened in the organization's premises.

• 2016

  Joins the public union "Federation of ATO Participants of Kyiv Region" at the Kyiv Regional State Administration.

• 2016

  Annual international competition "Nashchadky Vilnykh" founded with support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

• 2016

  Oleksii Sannikov becomes head of the organization.

• 2015

  Becomes co-founder of the Movement for the Promotion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine ("Rukh 100").

• 2015

  Joins the Council of Volunteers at the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

• 2014

  Ukrainian Legion founded as a military-patriotic public organization.

• 2014

  Co-founder Viktor Hurniak joins the "Aidar" battalion as a volunteer.

A civic patriotic organization forming a trained military reserve and promoting territorial defense readiness among Ukrainian citizens.

• Ввідний вишкіл (Introductory military drill)

  Introductory course consisting of 8 theoretical and 4 practical sessions over 1 month.

• Курс молодого бійця (Young fighter course)

  Course to gain an understanding of military life and one's own capabilities.

• Базова підготовка легіонера (Basic legionnaire training)

  Continuation and deepening of the young fighter course, with 8-10 practical sessions.

• Tactical medicine training

  Training in first aid and tactical medicine.

• Firearms training

  Training in shooting and weapons handling.

• Aerial reconnaissance training

  Training in aerial reconnaissance, including FPV drones.

• Нащадки Вільних (Descendants of the Free)
• Рух 100 (Rukh 100)
• Простір «Ветеранський Намет» (Veteran Tent Space)

1. 1Український Легіон. Військовий вишкіл. Київ, Харків,Львівukraine-legion.org.ua
2. 2Про УЛ - Український Легіонukraine-legion.org.ua
3. 3Керівний склад - Український Легіонukraine-legion.org.ua
4. 4Зала слави - Український Легіонukraine-legion.org.ua
5. 5Ukrainian Legion - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6Український Легіон (організація) - Wikipediauk.wikipedia.org