Asian Volunteer Corps
| Asian Volunteer Corps | |
|---|---|
| 亚洲志愿军团 | |
 Emblem and shoulder patch of the Asian Volunteer Corps | |
| Founded | 2026 |
| Allegiance |  Ukraine |
| Branch |  Ukrainian Ground Forces |
| Type | Infantry and special operations |
| Engagements | |
| Website | Official X page |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Unknown |
The Asian Volunteer Corps is a unit of the Ukrainian Ground Forces made up of volunteers from countries in Asia.[1][2] The unit was activated in July 2026,[2][3] following the dissolution of the International Legion.[4][5]
History
The AVC was formed in July 2026 as a company-sized unit meant to handle the influx of volunteers from east and southeast Asia.[2][3] The purpose of the unit was to consolidate Asian volunteers previously scattered throughout the International Legion and to resolve language and communication barriers.[1]
The unit's first deployment was to the Zaporizhzhia region in eastern Ukraine in July 2026.[3]
Composition
The Asian Volunteer Corps includes volunteers from multiple different countries, mainly Japan,[6][7] China,[3][8][9] Taiwan,[3] and South Korea.[1][3][9] Many Japanese volunteers are veterans of the Japan Self-Defense Forces.[10]
Legality
According to Chinese,[11] Japanese,[12][13] and South Korean[14][15] law, citizens of those countries are prohibited from fighting in a foreign military. The Taiwanese government does not explicitly prohibit its citizens from volunteering for a foreign military, however it is highly discouraged.[16][17]
References
- 1 2 3 "UNITED24 (@U24_gov_ua) on X". X (formerly Twitter). 2026-08-14. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
- 1 2 3 "Asian Volunteer Corps (@AVC_Ukraine) on X". X (formerly Twitter). 2026-07-11. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 zamobserver (2026-08-13). "CHINESE VOLUNTEERS REPORTED ON COMBAT MISSION WITH UKRAINE'S "ASIAN VOLUNTEER CORPS" - The Zambian Observer". Retrieved 2026-08-19.
- ↑ S.A, Telewizja Polska. "Ukraine disbands its Foreign Legion". tvpworld.com. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
- ↑ Zavadska, Yuliia. "Ukraine Disbands International Legion, Reassigns Foreign Fighters". www.kyivpost.com. Archived from the original on 2026-06-26. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
- ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
- ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
- ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
- 1 2 The Geo Network (2026-08-16). Xi Jinping's NIGHTMARE: Chinese & Japanese Fighters JOIN Ukraine's Army!. Retrieved 2026-08-19 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
- ↑ Hawkins, Amy (2025-10-20). "'I wanted to do something more meaningful': the Chinese nationals fighting for Ukraine". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
- ↑ "Around 70 Japanese nationals have volunteered to fight for Ukraine". Arab News Japan. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
- ↑ "70 Japanese apply to become volunteer soldiers in Ukraine, many ex-SDF personnel". Mainichi Daily News. 2022-03-02. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
- ↑ "9 South Koreans currently in Ukraine as volunteer fighters: Report". Anadolu (in Turkish). Retrieved 2026-08-19.
- ↑ Da-gyum, Ji (2025-11-27). "Seoul confirms death of Korean volunteer fighter in Ukraine". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
- ↑ Institute, Global Taiwan (2023-06-28). "Taiwanese Support for Ukraine: Humanitarian Aid, Economic Sanctions, and Volunteer Soldiers". Global Taiwan Institute. Retrieved 2026-08-19.
- ↑ Kuo, Lily; Chiang, Vic (2022-07-03). "Wary of China threat, Taiwanese join Ukraine's fight against Russia". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2026-08-19.