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Who and how can get the status of combatant: instruction of the Ministry of Defence

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has published a step-by-step algorithm for those who want to apply for combatant status on their own, the

In Ukraine, all military personnel who took part in hostilities, in particular after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, are entitled to receive combatant status and benefits guaranteed by the state of Ukraine.

A condition for granting combatant status to servicemen is that they perform combat missions either individually or as part of a military unit. There are no requirements for the number of days spent in combat areas.

Confirmation of combat missions performed by a serviceman is provided by excerpts or copies of (at least one of the following documents must be present)

• combat reports;
• logs of combat operations (operational tasks, maintenance of the operational situation);
• logbooks;
• flight logs;
• materials of special investigations into the facts of wounds, contusions, and injuries.

Who can apply for the status of a combatant?

Both discharged and active military personnel can apply for combatant status.

The following persons can apply

• a unit commander who centrally submits documents for subordinate servicemen;
• a serviceman who collects documents and submits them to the relevant commission on his own;
• a person discharged from military service through a territorial recruitment and social support centre.

In order to obtain the status of a combatant, military personnel can submit documents in electronic and paper form.

Step-by-step algorithm for persons discharged from military service

To speed up the application process, persons discharged from military service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine are advised to apply to the CCC and JV at the place of registration (military registration). The application must be accompanied by a consent to the collection and processing of personal data and two 3×4 cm colour photographs on matte paper.

Upon receipt of the application (request) and consent to the collection and processing of personal data, representatives of the TCC and JV independently, exclusively through the electronic document management system, send the documents to the relevant commission through the military unit.

Upon receipt of the application, the military unit prepares a certificate of direct participation in measures necessary to ensure the defence of Ukraine, protection of the security of the population and the interests of the state in connection with the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and sends the necessary documents to the relevant commission.

In turn, the commission reviews the documents and makes a decision.

The procedure for active military personnel or their representatives is different.

Step-by-step algorithm for active servicemen – option 1

A serviceman (a person discharged from military service) or his representative may sign an application (appeal) to the Commission using the Diia Portal by applying a remote qualified electronic signature “Diia.Signature” (“Diia ID”) of the person and submit it to the following email address [email protected]

It is also possible to send an electronic digital signature generated in accordance with the established procedure to the following e-mail address for sending applications directly: [email protected]

Applications can be submitted via the Diia portal or directly to the e-mail address:

1. Copies of the relevant documents (if any) to ____ in 1 copy (indicate the number of sheets).

2. Consent to the collection and processing of personal data on ___ pages in 1 copy.

3. Two 3×4 cm colour photographs in electronic form in JPG, JPEG format. The image of the face should fill 65-70% of the photo (for persons discharged from military service who will receive a combatant certificate at the territorial recruitment and social support centre, they are not attached).

4. Other documents that contain evidence and confirm the fact that you personally or as a member of a military unit (body, subdivision), institution or establishment performed combat (service) tasks.

Step-by-step algorithm foractive serv icemen– option 2

A serviceman (a person discharged from military service) or his representative may sign an application (appeal) to the Commission and send it through the post office of national postal operators to the address of the relevant Commission.

Attention: The application (appeal) is submitted to the Commission of the military command and control body to which the military unit where the serviceman is or has been on military service is subordinated.

In this case, the following shall be submitted:

1. Originals of the relevant documents (if any) on ___ pages in 1 copy.

2. Consent to the collection and processing of personal data on ___ pages in 1 copy.

3. Two 3×4 cm colour photographs on matte paper, the face should fill 65-70% of the photograph (not required for persons discharged from military service who will receive a combatant certificate at the territorial recruitment and social support centre).

4. Other documents that contain evidence and confirm the fact that you personally or as a member of a military unit (body, subdivision), institution or establishment performed combat (service) tasks.

If the serviceman does not know which body the commission is subordinated to, the application can be sent to the address of the type (branch) of the military to which it is subordinated or to the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.

Samples of applications (appeals) by a serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (a person discharged from military service) or his representative can be found at this link.