Draft Law on Military Ombudsman submitted to Parliament

The President of Ukraine has submitted a draft Law on Military Ombudsman to the Verkhovna Rada for urgent consideration.

This initiative is part of systemic reforms aimed at establishing an effective mechanism to protect the rights and freedoms of Ukrainian service members.

The Military Ombudsman shall be a civilian official who will have the trust of defenders and their families and will be tasked with protecting the rights of:

• Service members of all branches of the Defence Forces of Ukraine;
• Police officers engaged in combat operations;
• Foreign nationals and stateless persons serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine;
• Other categories of individuals as stipulated by law.

“This initiative will establish a strong institution with the mandate, authority, and public trust to become a vital part of a new system of military justice,” stated Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umerov.

The Office of the Military Ombudsman will function as an auxiliary body under the President of Ukraine. Its primary role will be to ensure democratic civilian oversight of the security and defense sector.

The draft law outlines a clear procedure for filing and reviewing complaints, as well as an effective mechanism for conducting inspections in military units and administrative bodies. 

The Military Ombudsman will be appointed by the President for a five-year term. No individual may serve in this role for more than two consecutive terms. Deputies shall be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Ombudsman.

The Minister of Defence expressed gratitude to all those involved in the preparation of the draft law, including the Presidential Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights of Military Personnel, officers from the Ministry of Defense’s Central Directorate for the Protection of the Rights of Military Personnel, experts, and representatives of civil society.