Foreign defenders of Ukraine have simplified obtaining combatant status: which document is no longer needed

An extract on the absence of a criminal record has been removed from the package of documents that military unit commanders submit to process the combatant status (UBD) for foreign servicemen. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine announced this change on 14 November.

The Cabinet of Ministers' decision applies to foreigners and stateless persons in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It was adopted on the initiative of the Ministry of Defense.

Previously, the package included a full extract on the absence of a criminal record for the applicant, which was obtained through the state portal of electronic services, a service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, or a center for the provision of administrative services.

The ministry explained that obtaining the document required personal actions by the serviceman. While performing combat tasks, this possibility is not always available, which complicated the processing of the status.

When processing UBD through the interagency commission, the package sent by the military unit still includes a copy of the passport with a translation into Ukrainian, a copy of the document on registration in the State Register of Individuals — Taxpayers, and a certificate in Form No. 6 on direct participation in relevant measures for the defense of Ukraine.

Removing the extract simplifies the collection of documents but does not replace the confirmation of participation in combat actions. In its clarification on obtaining UBD for foreigners, the Ministry of Defense points out the need for official contract service and direct participation in relevant combat tasks.

For a serviceman, a practical step is to check with their unit whether the documents have been submitted to the commission for consideration and whether they are properly formatted. In particular, the Ministry of Defense recommends verifying that the transliteration of the first and last names in military documents matches the passport or its official translation.

According to the department's assessment, removing the extract eliminates an additional barrier for foreign defenders and simplifies the interaction between unit commanders and the interagency commission.

Based on materials: Ministry of Defense announcement of 14 November, clarification on the procedure for obtaining UBD for foreigners.