Pryncyp

All formal procedures are completed through the Territorial Center of Recruitment and Social Support (TCRSS) – a local military office found in almost every city in Ukraine. These procedures are usually carried out in Kyiv or regional capitals.

At the TCRSS, you:

Your processing, including psychological screening, is handled by the unit you selected. However, you may be referred to the nearest TCRSS for the medical examination.

This is a standard procedure intended to ensure that the candidate does not pose a threat to the national security of Ukraine.

What is checked:

At the initial stages (application and initial interview), the check may be conducted by the TCRSS or your chosen military unit. The main stage of the screening is conducted by the Recruitment Center for Foreigners, with the involvement of the Security Service of Ukraine, the National Police of Ukraine, Ukrainian intelligence agencies, and other authorities. Duration: up to 15 days, but no more than one month.

In practice, the background check may sometimes be fully organized and conducted by the TCRSS or the military unit alone.

Stages of the special background screening:

A personal case file will be created for you; it's a folder containing your documents. It will record your periods of military service in Ukraine, participation in combat operations, medical examination results, and information about your family members that may be used for emergency contact purposes, etc.

In the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the personal case file is prepared by the TCRSS. In the National Guard of Ukraine, it is prepared directly by your subunit.

The personal case file includes:

If a foreigner joins the National Guard of Ukraine, the personal case file will also include:

After all documents are prepared, you will be assigned to a military unit for service. There, your physical fitness will be checked again, and a contract will be signed with you.

A military service contract is a written agreement between a foreign national and the state that establishes legal relations during military service.

Regardless of the rank in the military of your home country, when signing the contract in Ukraine you are automatically assigned the rank of "Private". Currently, Ukrainian legislation does not provide for a procedure for confirming or recognizing your previous foreign rank.

However, if you had previously served in the Ukrainian military, your Ukrainian rank must be taken into account.

At the time of assigning your rank, the commander immediately appoints you to the appropriate position by issuing an order.

The contract is drafted in Ukrainian, and only this version has legal force. Some subunits prepare bilingual contracts or provide translations into English or Spanish for your convenience. However, the translated document is for reference only and has no legal force. 

The contract is prepared in two copies: one is kept in your personal case file; the other remains with you.

For first-time contracts: from the date you are officially entered into the personnel roster of the military unit you signed the contract with. This usually coincides with the date of physical signing. Inclusion in the roster is confirmed by a military unit commander’s order, and you may request an extract from this order if needed.

For contract renewals: from the date the new contract is signed.

Promotion in rank is possible during service. 

You may be promoted to junior sergeant if:

1. You complete the required sergeant-level training

2. You are appointed by your commander to a position corresponding to the junior sergeant rank (e.g., squad leader)

3. The commander approves the junior sergeant rank assignment

In this case, you must sign a new sergeant-level contract.

The procedure for granting officer ranks to foreigners is currently not regulated by law. In practice, this means that obtaining an officer rank is currently not possible, even if you have the relevant experience and qualifications.

The contract stipulates a two-month probationary period. During this period of time, it is determined whether you are able to perform your duties and comply with military discipline. In practice, however, the probationary period does not exist in all units.

The contract is terminated:

During martial law, several grounds allow for discharge from military service (early termination of the contract):

Tip: After discharge, you can request that the command record the date and reason for your discharge in your copy of the contract – you might need this as proof of service in the future. In practice, you may be issued your clearance certificates (financial, property, etc.).

The physical fitness is assessed in the military unit before signing the contract. In some cases, it may be conducted at the TCRSS.

Age and gender are taken into account during the assessment. It includes, for example, pull-ups on a horizontal bar and push-ups (bending and extending the arms in a prone position), among other exercises.

If you have never served in the army, you will be sent to a training center for preparation and to obtain a military specialty. Some subunits refer all incoming foreign recruits to training. Sometimes training takes place directly in the military unit where you will serve.

Training usually consists of two stages:

General training program covers: Tactical combat casualty care; engineering training; combat shooting (day, night, moving targets, in trenches); communications and military topography (land navigation). 

Upon completion, you are assigned the specialty of rifleman – Military Occupational Specialty Code No. 100.

You receive a specialized military specialty for your future service. The duration depends on the specialty. 

If you fail to complete the training program, refuse to undergo training, or show indiscipline, you may be dismissed early. In such a case, the commander may terminate your contract.

After completing training, you are assigned to a subunit for a position corresponding to your specialty.