Navrocki signed a law exempting Poles fighting on the side of Ukraine from criminal liability
Polish President Karol Nawrocki has signed a law that provides for exemption from criminal liability for Polish citizens who are fighting or have fought as part of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in the war against Russia. This was reported by the press service of the Office of the President of Poland.
“Polish President Karol Nawrocki signed the law of March 13, 2026 on the non-application of criminal liability to citizens of the Republic of Poland who took or are taking part on the side of Ukraine in the armed conflict caused by the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine”, the report says.
The document stipulates that punishment will not be applied to Poles who joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine since April 2014.
It is also noted that such servicemen must inform the Minister of National Defense of Poland in writing about the date and place of commencement of service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as the date and place of its completion. This must be done within six months after returning to Poland. Failure to comply with this requirement entails criminal liability in the form of a fine or imprisonment for a term of up to two years.
On February 27, 2022, President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to foreigners to join the resistance to Russian troops in Ukraine. For those who express such a desire, it was decided to create a separate International Legion of Territorial Defense. The very next day, Zelensky introduced a temporary visa-free regime for foreign volunteers.
On February 28, 2022, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported that several thousand foreigners had volunteered to join the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine.
In November 2025, the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine changed their approach to integrating foreign volunteers, expanding their opportunities for service and increasing the effectiveness of their involvement in combat units.
