Ukraine Adopts Law Allowing Foreigners to Serve in the Country’s Army

Over the past year, foreigners have been engaged in Kiev's military operation in Donbass as part of "volunteer battalions".

Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, passed new legislation on Tuesday allowing foreign nationals to serve in the country's military on contract.

The bill was supported by 229 lawmakers with a required minimum of 226, and has yet to be signed by the president.

Following the creation of volunteer battalions and special forces units under the jurisdiction of Ukraine’s Ministry of the Interior, many foreigners possessing military expertise began arriving to the eastern regions of the country and joined in the military operations there despite it being against the law, according to an explanatory note attached to the document.

Furthermore, the current Ukrainian legislation doesn’t permit foreigners to serve in the country’s armed forces.

The document claims that international practice allows foreigners to serve in legal military organizations operating outside of their home country’s borders.

The law states that foreigners and stateless persons may become officers of the Ukrainian military only after attaining the country’s citizenship.