The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the law on the military ombudsman in the second reading and as a whole on September 17. The corresponding decision was supported by 283 members of parliament, marking an important step in strengthening the protection of the rights of military personnel and the country’s defense capabilities.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Functions and Tasks of the Military Ombudsman
The new law provides for the establishment of the position of military ombudsman under the President of Ukraine. The ombudsman will be responsible for democratic civilian oversight in the security and defense sector, as well as for protecting the rights of military personnel, reservists, conscripts, members of volunteer formations of territorial communities, individuals involved in the resistance movement in temporarily occupied territories, and law enforcement personnel participating in combat operations.
The main powers include accepting complaints from military personnel, conducting inspections in military units and administrative structures, preparing reports, and interacting with state authorities. The military ombudsman will also be able to draft conclusions and recommendations for commanders, military management bodies, and other authorities to enhance the effectiveness of rights protection.
“The military ombudsman will work under the President of Ukraine and implement democratic civilian oversight in the security and defense sector. In particular, they will accept complaints from military personnel, conduct inspections in military units and administrative institutions, prepare reports, and interact with other government bodies,” he wrote on Facebook.
Appointment, Reporting, and Operational Features
The law stipulates that the military ombudsman is appointed and dismissed by the President of Ukraine in case of non-fulfillment or improper fulfillment of duties. The ombudsman must submit a public report on their activities to the President and the Verkhovna Rada by March 30 each year. The report will be available on the official website of the ombudsman, except for information with restricted access.
Key functions of the new body include identifying rights violations, analyzing the causes and conditions of their occurrence, and developing proposals to eliminate such violations. The military ombudsman has the right to request and obtain the necessary information for reviewing complaints, including information with restricted access, while ensuring the confidentiality of personal data without the applicant’s consent.
The institution of the military ombudsman in Ukraine was established in April 2024, and at the end of that year, the president appointed human rights defender Olga Reshetilova to this position. The draft law was submitted to the Verkhovna Rada as urgent in May and was supported in the first reading in June. During the consideration of the final version of the document, certain difficulties arose, particularly due to the large number of amendments.