The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine provided details about the work and tasks of the Military Police.

ArmyInform reported on this.

According to Ilya Kostin, Defense Ministry’s authorized representative for military police, the department will work similarly to the Military Law Enforcement Service, but with more advanced functions.

Their main functions will include maintaining military discipline, conducting operational and investigative activities, and investigating war crimes.

Additionally, the Military Police will protect the rights of servicemen and execute sentences.

“That is, the functions of the Military Police will include operational and investigative activities, and limited investigative activities. Only in relation to war crimes,” Kostin noted.

He also added that Ukraine is the only country in the world that is engaged in such large-scale hostilities and does not have a military unit with law enforcement functions.

Therefore, the issue of creating a military police is currently very relevant for Ukraine in wartime.

On June 19, 2024, MPs adopted as a basis the draft Law of Ukraine “On the Military Police” (Reg. No. 6569-d), which was finalized by the Law Enforcement Committee, defining the legal framework for organizing the activities of the Military Police, its general structure, tasks, and powers.

It also stipulated that the Military Police would be a military formation with law enforcement functions, part of the security and defense sector, and its main task would be to ensure law and order and military discipline in the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the State Special Transport Service.

The newly created formation is to become the successor to the Military Law Enforcement Service, with jurisdiction over the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the State Transport Special Service.

The structure will ensure law and order and military discipline among military personnel, persons liable for military service and reservists, as well as their protection of life, health, rights and legitimate interests. The protection of rights should be carried out in accordance with NATO standard AJP-3.21.