Draft bill #12023 of September 9, 2024 

Sponsor: the Cabinet of Ministers 

Who is affected: foreigners and stateless persons serving in the military in Ukraine, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service, and the National Guard of Ukraine 

Status: sent for review to the Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence 

Summary: 

  • foreigners and stateless persons will be allowed to serve in officer positions in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service, and the National Guard of Ukraine 
  • foreigners and stateless persons will be able to apply for military service at: 
    • recruitment centers of the Ukrainian Army, including those created for foreigners and stateless persons 
    • centers for providing administrative services 
    • employment centers 
    • territorial recruitment centers at their place of residence or temporary stay 
    • directly to military units where they wish to serve 
  • before accepting a foreigner or stateless person for service, a special check will be conducted to establish the following: 
    • the legality of their stay in Ukraine 
    • absence of fines or convictions in Ukraine 
    • signs of links to intelligence-subversive activities of foreign states against Ukraine 
  • with consent, the individual will be checked with a lie detector 
  • foreigners and stateless persons will be accepted for military service in the Main Intelligence Directorate until the end of the special period. 

What is right: the presence of experienced officers, regardless of their citizenship, can significantly enhance the combat capability of units and the efficiency of mission execution. A clear and understandable special check will help avoid threats to national security.