Foreigners allowed to serve in the Ukrainian Armed Forces 40810151

Defence & Security News - (Ukraine)
 
Foreigners allowed to serve in the Ukrainian Armed Forces
The Ukrainian Parliament is giving the right to foreign nationals to serve in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to the Ukrainian MOD, the law No 2389 was approved in 6 October and around 1,000 combat-ready and experienced servicemen will legally join the Ukrainian Army.
     
Foreigners allowed to serve in the Ukrainian Armed Forces
Ukrainian soldiers during drills at Dnepropetrovsk (Source: Ukrainian MoD)
     

The legislation also simplifies the bureaucratic process required for non-Ukrainian nationals to serve with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. More specifically, foreigners who serve or have served in the Ukrainian military will be able to obtain the citizenship after living for three years in the country. Until now, foreigners had this right after five years of living in the country.

Furthermore, those who have obtained a medal for their military service, would see the language knowledge requirement being waved, as long as they can prove that they have a residence permit and that they can financially support themselves.

The new law has been adopted in an effort to honour those who joined the Armed Forces and volunteer brigades after the war with the separatists in Eastern Ukraine and to attract more of them in the near future.