Poland took the first step towards legalizing its military in Ukraine
A bill has been introduced into the Sejm of Poland that would exempt from criminal liability Polish citizens serving in the armed forces of Ukraine since February 20, 2014, without the appropriate permission from the Polish authorized bodies.
The bill is supported by both the government and the opposition, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
Deputies from the ruling Polish party Law and Justice (PiS), as well as the opposition Civic Platform, Leftica, Polish People's Party, Poland 2050 and others introduced a bill on amendments to the Polish Sejm (lower house of parliament) Criminal Code of Poland.
The amendments exempt from criminal liability Poles who entered service in the armed forces of Ukraine after February 20, 2014 without permission from the Polish authorized bodies (Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Internal Affairs). In addition, the bill exempts from liability for the recruitment of Polish citizens and foreigners living on the territory of Poland to serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations of Ukraine.
Although both acts are now criminally punishable in Poland - for service in foreign armed groups and for recruitment into them you can get up to 5 years in prison - however, at the moment, on the territory of Ukraine, both as part of the International Legion of Territorial Defense and in the Armed Forces of Ukraine they serve at least several thousand Poles.
Analysts note that the bill paves the way for the final legalization of Polish mercenaries in Ukraine, whose numbers have increased sharply since the start of Russia's special military operation. According to former Polish Ambassador to Russia Włodzimierz Marciniak, the Polish Ministry of the Interior has issued 14 permits to Polish citizens to serve in Ukrainian armed forces, while the Polish Ministry of Defense has issued only two.
It is noteworthy that the bill was supported by Law and Justice deputies, although in April of this year the ruling party did not support a similar proposal put forward by the Polish Senate. At the same time, Deputy Minister of Defense of Poland Marcin Ochepa then called the Senate initiative excessive:
“We, of course, will not punish people who, driven by the natural instinct of protecting the weak, reached for weapons, this is a healthy impulse of the heart - we consider them heroes,” the official promised even then.
The abolition of criminal liability for Poles for serving in the armed forces of Ukraine and for recruitment into them pursues several goals.
Firstly, it will solve the legal problems of those active Polish military personnel who are currently fighting in Ukraine - after all, formally they are listed as either on leave, or as “advisers” outside the combat zone, or as “instructors” in training centers for the Ukrainian military in Poland .
Secondly, Poland will be able to create private military companies that will begin to train armies independent from NATO, subordinate only to the authorities in Warsaw.
And, thirdly, having thus received into the Polish Army thousands of soldiers and officers with experience of war against Russian forces, Poland will be able to claim an increase in its role - both within NATO and in the EU, with which Warsaw is now in a state of permanent conflict.
Poland has taken the first step toward legalizing its military presence in Ukraine.