​​​​​PARIS 

Soldiers from the French army's foreign legion were detained in Paris for allegedly attempting to join the Ukraine war to fight Russian forces, French news broadcaster BFMTV reported Wednesday.

Fourteen legionnaires of Ukrainian origin were arrested March 1 aboard a bus leaving for Poland.

Some of the passengers were suspected to have materials suggesting that they were possibly going to join the war, military sources told BFMTV news.

Nine soldiers had permission to leave but were not authorized to exit French territory. Five were in a situation of “irregular absence.”

They were all handed to the Commanding Officer of the Foreign Legion group.

The army is yet to determine if the 14 soldiers intended to join the war or travel to Poland to help their families fleeing Ukraine.

Gen. Alain Lardet, commander of the Foreign Legion, said since the war erupted last week, Ukrainians have been disturbed and worried about their families.

He estimated around 25 soldiers of Ukrainian origin from the legion have presumably deserted to fight the Russians. "The Legion has cut ties. They are committed to a cause that I do not judge," he said, according to BFMTV.

He added that legionnaires are permitted special leave upon request to travel to Ukraine’s neighboring countries to assist their families but are prohibited from crossing the border.

The legion includes an estimated 710 soldiers of Ukrainian origin and 450 of Russian origin.

The Foreign Legion Command is an elite corps of the French army and essentially a fighting force made up of infantry, cavalry, and combat engineers regiments.

The Legion recruits foreign nationals on a contract basis who can serve in all external operations and missions on national territory.

Currently, the force includes 9,000 soldiers from 140 nations who are commanded by French officers and deployed across five continents.

Nearly 90% of legionnaires are foreigners and 11% Francophones.