The term for concluding a contract for military chaplains has been extended to six months, according to Government Resolution

Candidates for the positions of military chaplains will now have six months, instead of three, from the moment they receive their mandate.

The government has adopted amendments to the Regulation on the Procedure for Issuing a Mandate for the Right to Carry out Military Chaplaincy Activities, as approved by Resolution N859, dated 2 August 2022. The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine developed the relevant draft resolution at the request of the Interdenominational Council on Military Chaplaincy, which operates under the Ministry of Defence.

According to the new rules:

• Copies of the mandates issued will now be provided not by religious organizations but directly by the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience;
• When discharging military chaplains, military formations will inform not only the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics but also the relevant central executive bodies to which the military formations are subordinate;
• The term for concluding a military service contract in the positions of the Military Chaplaincy Service has been extended from three to six months from the date of mandate issuance.

“These changes do not merely enhance procedures; they also demonstrate our commitment to caring for our military personnel, who defend Ukraine daily. We are dedicated to removing unnecessary barriers and providing our defenders with comprehensive support, including spiritual support,” stated Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Brigadier General of Justice Serhii Melnyk.

The adopted changes aim to resolve issues related to the untimely conclusion of contracts for military service in the Military Chaplaincy Service positions and incomplete information of executive authorities. The new regulations will contribute to properly staffing positions in the Military Chaplaincy Service.