Procedure for obtaining combatant status for members of Volunteer Formations from Territorial Communities

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, by Order No. 808 dated December 4, 2024, which entered into force on February 14, 2025, has regulated the procedure for granting combatant status to individuals who were part of Volunteer Formations of Territorial Communities (VFTCs) and directly participated in activities essential to the defense of Ukraine, the protection of civilian security, and the safeguarding of national interests in response to the military aggression of the russian federation. Individuals in this category are now eligible to apply for combatant status.

What is a VFTC?

A Volunteer Formation of a Territorial Community (VFTC) is a unit established by a community initiative group in the presence of a commander of a unit of the Territorial Defence Forces (TDF) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and authorized representatives of the local self-government body of the respective territorial community. The VFTC unit’s commander is appointed by order of the Commander of the Territorial Defence Forces, with the approval of the Commander of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants are individuals who were members of the VFTC and who, while directly participating in activities essential to the defense of Ukraine, the protection of civilian security, and the safeguarding of national interests in response to the military aggression of the russian federation against Ukraine, on the basis of a combat order of the commander of a military unit of the TDF of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, under whose direct supervision, according to the territorial principle of the VFTC, performed combat missions in the areas of military (combat) operations.

Individuals considered members of a VFTC are citizens who submitted an application to join a Volunteer Formation of a Territorial Community and signed a Territorial Defense Volunteer Contract with the VFTC commander.

Where should eligible individuals apply?

• To the VFTC commander.
• If the VFTC unit has been disbanded, applicants should contact the commander of the Territorial Defense Forces (TDF) military unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine under whose territorial jurisdiction the respective VFTC unit operated.
• To the Commissions for the Review of Combatant Status Applications, operating within military units A1155, A5725, A5833, A5509, and A5617, subordinated to the Territorial Defense Forces unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine that currently holds or formerly held territorial command over the respective VFTC unit.

Contact details (email, postal addresses, and phone numbers) for the Commissions of military units A1155, A5725, A5833, A5509, and A5617 are available in the Directory.

Required documents

• Application in the form set out in Annex 8 of the Procedure approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Resolution No. 413, dated August 20, 2014.
• A certificate confirming the direct participation of a territorial community volunteer in activities essential to the defense of Ukraine, the protection of civilian security, and the safeguarding of national interests in response to the military aggression of the russian federation against Ukraine. The certificate should be in the form set out in Annex 7 of the Procedure approved by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 413, dated August 20, 2014.

Processing timelines

The submitted documents may be reviewed by:

• Directly within the military unit of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which currently oversees or formerly oversaw the territorial jurisdiction of the respective VFTC unit. This process involves entering the required information into the Unified State Register of War Veterans and is executed automatically in real time, provided that the military unit has designated authorized personnel to enter the data into the Unified State Register of War Veterans;