Verkhovna Rada adopts bill on Military Ombudsman: a significant step towards protecting servicemen’s rights
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has achieved a historic milestone by passing legislation that will fundamentally change the landscape of legal protection for Ukrainian military personnel.
After extensive debates and negotiations, the parliament, with a majority of votes, approved in the second reading and overall the draft law No.
13266, which establishes a dedicated position for a Military Ombudsman — an institution responsible for safeguarding and supporting the rights of soldiers and officers in Ukraine’s armed forces.Sources report that 283 MPs voted in favor of the legislation, reflecting widespread political and public support for the introduction of this new institution.
The story of this initiative began several months earlier, in November 2024, when Defense Minister Rustem Umerov publicly announced plans to create the position of a military ombudsman, deeming it a crucial link in military rights protection.
He assured that the appointment would be made soon.The next step came when President Volodymyr Zelensky, on November 19, 2024, instructed the Ministry of Defense and the military command to identify a candidate and appoint the ombudsman.
Consequently, on December 30, Zelensky appointed Olga Reshetilova — a human rights defender, volunteer, and head of the Media Initiative for Human Rights — to this vital post.
Within just two weeks, she received over 3,800 inquiries from servicemen, with several hundred not related to her jurisdiction.This decision marks a critical milestone in reforming Ukraine’s military governance system.
The new military ombudsman is envisioned to become the voice and protector of those defending the country.
President Zelensky has already submitted a draft law to the parliament, representing the next step in reform efforts and raising standards for the protection of Ukrainian soldiers’ rights — a particularly urgent need amid current security challenges and threats to national stability.