The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has changed the procedure for granting combatant status (UBD). Now service members who already received this status for previous periods of service can obtain it on a new basis - participation in repelling Russia's full-scale invasion.

This was reported on October 22 by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine.

Previously, military personnel who had UBD status for previous service or execution of special tasks faced legal obstacles when applying for such status for participation in hostilities after February 24, 2022.

New rules allow obtaining UBD status on various legal grounds, regardless of whether it was previously granted to a person.

The changes apply to several categories of defenders:

  • military personnel who participated in hostilities or carried out special tasks in previous years, including outside Ukraine;
  • participants of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) and the Joint Forces Operation (JFO);
  • service members who, after February 24, 2022, participated in measures to defend Ukraine from Russian aggression;
  • persons who carried out tasks within the resistance movement or other special forms of involvement in the state's defense.

Separately, the government settled the issue of documentary confirmation of status on multiple grounds. If a person is entitled to UBD under different provisions of the law, they will be issued one paper certificate of their choice. Other grounds will be confirmed by an extract from the Unified State Register of War Veterans.

Procedures were also aligned with the mechanism of automatic status granting through electronic registries.

According to the estimate of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, the innovations will allow about a thousand service members to formalize UBD status for participation in repelling Russia's full-scale aggression.

The ministry emphasizes that the changes are designed to eliminate legal contradictions due to which service members could face difficulties confirming their rights to social guarantees, benefits, and assistance.

At the same time, having multiple grounds for obtaining the status does not mean automatic assignment of double benefits or payments.

It will be possible to apply for the status under the new rules after the official publication and entry into force of the relevant amendments. This also applies to those military personnel who were previously denied due to already having UBD status.

To apply, it is necessary to have documents confirming participation in hostilities or execution of relevant tasks. In particular, these can be certificates of direct participation, orders, and other supporting materials.

Based on materials: Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Ministry of Veterans Affairs