Foreigners and stateless people serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been given a simplified procedure for obtaining combatant status. From now on, they will no longer need to submit a certificate confirming they have no criminal record.
The decision was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine at the initiative of the Ministry of Defence.
Previously, to obtain combatant status, commanders of military units had to submit a set of documents to an inter-agency commission, including:
- a copy of a passport with a Ukrainian-language translation;
- a copy of a document confirming registration in the State Register of Individuals – Taxpayers;
- Form No. 6 certificate confirming direct participation in combat operations;
- a full extract confirming the absence of a criminal record.
The documents had to be submitted within five days of the start of carrying out a combat order.
The Ministry of Defence explained that obtaining a no-criminal-record certificate required the servicemember to apply in person. While carrying out combat missions, foreign defenders did not always have that opportunity.
As a result, the requirement to provide this document has been removed from the mandatory set. This is intended to make it easier for foreign servicemembers to obtain combatant status and to eliminate legal inequality between them and Ukrainian citizens.
The Ministry of Defence noted that the decision is aimed at ensuring proper social protection for foreigners and stateless people who are defending Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.