Long lines are now forming in front of volunteer recruitment offices in Ukrainian cities.

In Lemberg it is said that the rush can hardly be coped with, that some men who are ready to fight have to wait several days before they can sign the lists.

Images of celebrities such as well-known heavyweight boxer Oleksandr Usyk, who has joined the Territorial Defense Forces and is now posing with his comrades in combat fatigues with guns, are circulating on Twitter.

A football coach and a well-known singer are also among those who want to set an example on social media.

Even former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is said to have volunteered to fight.

Alexander Haneke

Editor in Politics.

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Only in January of this year did Ukraine put a concept of "territorial defense" into effect.

The threat of the Russian deployment at the country's borders was already palpable.

According to the law passed last autumn, all women and men of military age can register for the associations.

The only requirement is that you are healthy and have not been convicted several times or for serious crimes.

Volunteer teams are traveling across the country

Once accepted, volunteers are given a yellow identification armband and weapons, if available.

Uniforms must be obtained privately.

Many of the fighters who can now be seen wearing the yellow armbands across the country are wearing disused uniform jackets or outdoor clothing.

According to the state defense plans, the associations should primarily take on auxiliary tasks for the military at the local level, such as protecting objects or guarding traffic junctions.

There are now pictures from all over the country of these volunteer squads standing at crossroads, patrolling residential areas and arresting suspected Russian saboteurs.

The Baltic states and Poland, which have long had plans for the event that a conventional attack from the east could overrun the countries, are models for the concept of territorial defense.

In Ukraine, the concept comprises three levels.

The lowest level is formed by the volunteer associations, which are attached to the municipalities.

At this level, the idea goes, it is best to decide where which forces are needed to guard critical infrastructure, for example.

The associations are loosely connected to the army.

The armed forces are always informed where the units are working and for what purpose.

Already at the beginning of the war, 37,000 volunteers had registered for the associations.

In the meantime, there should be significantly more than weapons are available.

The levels of resistance

In addition to the national ones, international volunteer associations are also to be set up in the future, which are also open to foreigners.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyj announced this on Sunday.

The Ukrainian state news agency Ukrinform, citing security circles, reports that volunteers from all countries can contact the Ukrainian embassies abroad, where an application process is being set up.

According to recent reports, a visa is not required.

Equipment other than weapons, especially protective vests and helmets, would have to be procured by the volunteers themselves.