The Ministry of Defence clarifies: How military personnel and their families should act in case of rights violations

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine continues its systematic efforts to protect the rights of service members and their family members. Financial allowances, referrals to the Military Medical Commission, access to medical care, the right to leave, and other social guarantees are essential entitlements that must be strictly observed, regardless of the duty station.

Individual and collective complaints are reviewed by the Central Department for the Protection of Service Members' Rights, which also provides primary legal assistance.

“Every service member has the right to defend their rights, and our mission is to ensure these rights are upheld for both them and their families. Over nearly a year of operation, the Central Department for the Protection of Service Members' Rights has become a cornerstone of legal support for our defenders. We urge you to contact us if your rights are violated. In most cases, the restoration of rights occurs almost automatically, requiring no additional action from the complainant,” said Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Brigadier General of Justice Serhii Melnyk.

Common issues raised by military personnel and their families include:

• Transfers to another duty station without the service member’s consent.
• Disbursement of additional types of service remuneration.
• Issuance of medical certificates to evaluate the extent of fitness limitations.
• Referrals to the Military Medical Commission.
• Issuance of extracts from investigation materials for the payment processing to the families of fallen or missing-in-action service members.

Upon identifying violations, the Central Department forwards complaints to military units, the State Bureau of Investigation, the National Police, or other relevant authorities to address the infringements and restore the rights of military personnel. In necessary cases, such issues could be subjected to official inspections and investigations.

If no violation is found, the complainant receives an official written response citing applicable legal provisions, explaining the reasons for denial, and outlining the appeal process.

Procedure for submitting a complaint (statement or grievance):

1. Prepare a written complaint in printed or handwritten form, detailing the nature of the issue.
2. Attach supporting documents that substantiate the complaint.
3. Submit the complaint and accompanying documents via the official email address: [email protected] or by mail to: 6 Povitrianykh Syl Avenue, Kyiv, 03049, Ukraine.

The processing period for complaints is 30 days. If the issue requires further examination, the review may be extended to 45 days, and the complainant will be notified accordingly.

A written complaint must include:

• The complainant’s full name (or the name of the entity submitting the complaint on behalf of the service member or their family).
• Contact details for follow-up communication.
• A detailed description of the rights violation.
• A specific request or demand.
• Documents verifying the complainant’s authority, if the complaint is submitted on behalf of the service member or their family by another party.
• Evidence of the violation, if available.

Anonymous complaints that cannot be traced to an identifiable author will not be considered. The complaint will not be considered if the complainant fails to provide the required information in response to the Central Department's requests.