Parliament adopts law on social guarantees for foreigners serving in Ukraine's Armed Forces

The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, has adopted a law regulating the legal status and medical support of servicemembers who are foreigners or stateless persons.

As many as 291 MPs supported the relevant bill, No. 14052, at second reading and as a whole at a parliament meeting on Wednesday, December 17, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The law updates the legal framework governing the status of foreigners and stateless persons who have signed contracts for military service in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the State Special Transport Service, and the National Guard, and partially extends social guarantees to them on the principles of equality and fairness.

The document provides for the issuance of temporary residence permits to such servicemembers for the duration of their contract and for an additional three months after its termination, defines the list of documents required for obtaining these permits, and allows the use of expired or exchangeable passport documents in cases where it is impossible to apply to the authorities of the aggressor state.

It also sets deadlines for issuing residence permits to individuals who signed contracts before the law enters into force, shortens the timeframe for implementing changes related to the exercise of the right to citizenship, and reduces the time limits for the Cabinet of Ministers to prepare subordinate legislation.

At the same time, the law limits the application of the general law on the social and legal protection of servicemembers to foreigners and stateless persons, while retaining guarantees of pay, medical care, and leave for them.

On November 4, the Verkhovna Rada adopted at first reading the bill on the legal status and medical support of servicemembers who are foreigners or stateless persons.

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