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.
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.
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