Draft bill #12023 of September 9, 2024 

Sponsor: the Cabinet of Ministers 

Status: adopted in the first reading 

Who is affected: foreigners and stateless persons intending to serve in the military in Ukraine, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Armed Forces of Ukraine, State Transport Special Service (STSS), and National Guard of Ukraine (NGU) 

Summary: 

  • the bill specifies that foreigners can voluntarily serve under contract in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, State Special Transport Service, and National Guard, including in officer positions 
  • a special background check of foreigners and stateless persons intending to enlist in military service will be mandatory 
  • during the special check, it will be established whether the person is in Ukraine legally, whether they have been subject to administrative or criminal liability, whether they cooperate with foreign special services, etc. Additionally, with consent, a foreign volunteer will be allowed to undergo a lie detector test. Refusal to do so will be a reason for rejection of enlistment 
  • recruitment centers for foreigners will be created and cooperate with administrative services centers, territorial centers for recruitment and social support, and military units to conduct recruitment 
  • foreigners will be allowed to receive officer ranks without obtaining Ukrainian citizenship 
  • foreigners will be allowed to conclude contracts for military service in officer positions for periods ranging from one to five years 
  • foreigners serving in the AFU, SSTS, and NGU will be allowed to enter Ukraine based on their military registration documents. Its template will be developed and approved by the Ministry of Defense for the AFU and SSTS or the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the NGU. 

What is right: 

  • foreigners will be allowed to serve in officer positions, which will help attract highly qualified foreign personnel to military service 
  • it will be easier for foreigners serving in the AFU to enter Ukraine.