Foreigners will be able to hold officer positions in the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

The Verkhovna Rada has passed this decision.

On Thursday, October 10, MPs voted to amend Law No.12023 on the procedure for contract military service by foreigners and stateless persons.

276 MPs supported this decision, MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak reported.

The amendments to the law propose, among other things, that foreigners and stateless persons be allowed to hold officer positions in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, and the State Transport Special Service.

To do so, they will have to undergo a special test, which will be conducted by the yet-to-be-established Center for Foreign Recruitment.

The government must approve regulations on the Center for Recruitment of Foreigners and Stateless Persons for contract military service.

The special test will include establishing the legality of their stay in Ukraine.

As well as the facts of bringing them to administrative and criminal liability in accordance with the legislation of Ukraine.

The detection of signs of such a person’s ties to the intelligence and subversive activities of foreign states against Ukraine and other circumstances may prevent such a person from being accepted for military service under a contract.

The explanatory note states that the need to improve the legislation arose due to the difficult operational situation at the front, which requires a significant increase in the number of combatants in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations.

Therefore, it is planned to recruit to the military through additional mobilization measures and by voluntarily enrolling those with the appropriate military specialties and combat experience. In particular, among foreigners and stateless persons.