The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has adopted draft law No. 13266 on the military ombudsman, approving it in the second reading and as a whole on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
According to the parliament’s press service, 283 deputies voted in favor.
The law establishes the position of a military ombudsman, responsible for monitoring compliance with the rights of servicemen, reservists, territorial defense members, resistance fighters in occupied territories, and law enforcement personnel engaged in hostilities.
Key functions include identifying violations of rights, determining their causes, and developing proposals to address them.
The ombudsman will be empowered to send recommendations to commanders, military authorities, and state institutions, consider complaints, and conduct inspections.
The ombudsman also has the right to access necessary information, including classified data, while being obliged not to disclose personal details without consent.
The military ombudsman will be appointed and dismissed by the president of Ukraine. By March 30 each year, the ombudsman will submit a public report on activities to both the President and the Verkhovna Rada.
Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal welcomed the decision, calling the new institution “a step towards justice, strengthening the army, and increasing the defense capability of the state.”
He added that the ombudsman will implement democratic civilian control in the defense sector, receive complaints, carry out inspections, generate reports, and cooperate with other government bodies.
Shmyhal said that his ministry will fully support the work of the ombudsman.
Presidential Commissioner for the Rights of Servicemen Olha Reshetylova said during a telethon that the Office of the Military Ombudsman will become operational only after the law adopted today enters into force and the president signs the decree establishing the office.
She disclosed that launching the Ombudsman’s Office will be a lengthy process. First, the law must be signed by the speaker of the parliament, after which it will be sent to the president.
The president will then sign the decree establishing the office, approve staffing regulations, appoint the ombudsman and deputies, and register the institution as a legal entity.
Only after these steps will the office be able to start functioning, she said.
“The law stipulates that we have 30 days to complete this process,” Reshetylova added.
According to her, the military ombudsman will begin accepting complaints from servicemen and conducting inspections only after the office is fully established.
“The inspections conclude with reports that the military ombudsman sends to the high command. The high command will then have 10 days to respond, take measures to address the violations, and hold the responsible parties accountable, most likely through disciplinary actions,” Reshetylova said.
She added that if the command fails to respond, it may be held administratively liable. At the same time, Reshetylova emphasized that the Ombudsman has the right to report to the supreme commander-in-chief, and extreme measures will be avoided.