Ukraine opens officer ranks to foreigners in new military law

The country's parliament has approved legislation permitting foreigners and stateless persons to hold officer positions in the country's armed forces and security services.

Oct 10, 2024 - 08:00

Ukraine opens officer ranks to foreigners in new military law

ukraine grant citizenship foreign fighters families zelenskyy says members international legion ukraine's main directorate intelligence (hur) screenshot from hur's video photo_5424989530089444052_y

Ukraine’s Parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, has passed a law allowing foreigners and stateless persons to hold officer positions in the country’s Armed Forces, National Guard, and State Special Transport Service.

This new legislation builds upon a previous law passed on 20 August, which addressed the legal status of foreigners and stateless persons fighting on Ukraine’s side. That earlier law allowed such individuals to obtain temporary residence permits or immigrate, even if their documents had expired, and to regularize their legal status while in Ukraine.

The legislation, which amends law No. 12023 regarding military service contracts for foreigners and stateless individuals, was approved on 10 October, as reported by Yaroslav Zhelezniak, a member of parliament from the Voice party.

Liga says the changes are aimed at addressing the challenging situation on the front lines by increasing the size of the army. According to the explanatory note accompanying the law, the military plans to bolster its ranks not only through mobilization but also by recruiting volunteers, particularly those with military experience from other countries.

Previously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to offer citizenship to foreign volunteers serving in its Defense Forces and their families. He specifically mentioned that this applies to “Ukrainian legionnaires” – the members of the Ukrainian International Legion, holding citizenship of other countries but not of Ukraine.

Related:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this. We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!