Ministry of Defence of Ukraine establishes interagency working group to improve service conditions for foreign volunteer service members
Foreign nationals and stateless persons defending Ukraine will have fair service conditions, including improvements to the legalization of their status, social protection, and support for their families. To develop these changes, the interagency working group held its first meeting.
At the meeting, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine Liubov Halan presented a concept for the changes, which will be implemented in close coordination with the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Office of the Military Ombudsman, and other government authorities directly involved in the process.
There is currently strong demand both within the Ukrainian military for recruiting foreign nationals and among foreign volunteers themselves. Our task is to ensure transparent recruitment conditions and decent conditions of military service. It is equally important that their families have access to necessary information and know where to turn for assistance.
The Ministry of Defence is already working on amendments to legislation and providing additional clarification on existing provisions that are not always implemented consistently at the local level. For example, the Ministry is preparing guidance for military units on temporary residence permits to simplify the process of obtaining them for foreign nationals serving in those units.
What the working group on foreign nationals’ military service will focus on
Representatives of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine joined the effort, endorsed the overall plan, and presented their work related to foreign volunteers.
Together with the Military Ombudsman and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs, State Migration Service, Ministry of Health, Ministry for Veterans Affairs, and other government authorities, the participants discussed a new approach to recruiting foreign volunteers and the issues that need to be addressed:
- identifying capable military units that recruit foreign nationals;
- legal stay in Ukraine and obtaining residence permits;
- addressing issues related to military service and career progression;
- support and medical treatment in cases of injury or illness;
- social protection for families, including one-time financial assistance.
The shared goal is to develop comprehensive legislative changes that will address existing gaps and provide clear procedures for every stage of a foreign national’s military service.
Representatives of military units will also participate in the working group to facilitate prompt communication and address emerging issues.
Next steps to improve conditions of service for foreign nationals
The working group is expected to become a permanent platform for both coordination and the development of solutions. Each week, under the chairmanship of the Ministry of Defence, experts will work in thematic subgroups whose composition will vary depending on the issue under consideration.
The group’s work is expected to result in draft regulations that will enable the agreed changes to be implemented.
At the same time, the Ministry of Defence is working on systemic issues, including personnel policy, opportunities for career progression, and identifying the units that will support foreign nationals at every stage: from Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Centers (enlistment offices) and training centers to combat units.
As previously reported, unified rules were approved for supporting foreign nationals and stateless persons who voluntarily wish to join the Defence Forces of Ukraine.