Military Medical Commission

Contents

General Information

The Military Medical Commission (MMC/VLK) is a medical examination of service members, which is required to document their health status and determine the causes of any injuries received. This should be done as soon as possible after the injury but no later than one month after sustaining the injury.

This is regulated by the relevant legislation.

The commission determines the need for long-term treatment, treatment abroad, medical leave, rehabilitation, prosthetics, and other care. It also determines the service member’s continued fitness for military service.

How to Get the MMC (VLK)

You must have a referral for the MMC (VLK). Usually, the referral is issued either by the hospital where you are receiving treatment or by the commander of your military unit. You cannot schedule the Military Medical Commission yourself – this is decided by the doctor or the command.

If you are in the hospital, regularly ask your doctor when the medical examination will take place – especially if you have been receiving treatment for around four months because this could affect your pay.

If the referral must be obtained through the commander, submit an official written report to the commander requesting the referral to the MMC (VLK).

Documents to Gather With the Referral

• Certificate of injury circumstances (Form 5)

• Medical documents: Medical book, medical records or extracts therefrom, discharge/transfer summaries, certificates/consultation opinions from doctors at healthcare facilities, etc.

• Military ID (military service book, certificate of service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, service ID)

• Combatant ID, if any

We recommend making paper and electronic copies of all these documents before the medical examination.

If you are not issued a MMC (VLK) referral

Prepare a written appeal that includes:

• Applicant’s full name

• Contact information

• Description of the issue

• Specific request

• Evidence of the violation (if available)

If you are serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, send your complaint to the Main Directorate for the Protection of Service Members’ Rights under the Ministry of Defense at the following email: mpd@mod.gov.ua. Or call the hotline of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine at 15-12.

You may also submit a complaint to the Medical Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine by sending it to: kms_zsu@post.mil.gov.ua.

If you are serving in the National Guard of Ukraine, contact the Main Directorate of the National Guard of Ukraine at the following email: public-info@ngu.gov.ua

Anonymous appeals are not considered.

Possible Decisions of the Commission and Their Effect on Service

The Military Medical Commission (VLK) may issue one of four decisions regarding fitness for military service:

1. Fit for service. This means you have no health-related restrictions and can continue military service without any limitations. You return to your military unit within 1-2 days and continue service as usual.

2. Fit for service, limited to support units, TCRSS, military universities, training centers/facilities, medical units, logistics, communications, operational support, or security units. This means you have no health-related restrictions and can continue military service in combat subunits without any limitations. After returning to your military unit, decision on reassignment to another position is made (if necessary).

3. Unfit for service or unfit for service with reexamination in 6-12 months You will be discharged from military service due to health reasons. Once the military unit receives the MMS (VLK) conclusion, discharge documents are prepared, and the corresponding order on discharge from military service is issued. In the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the military unit may complete this process without the foreign service member’s presence, provided it has received a report expressing the desire to be discharged, submitted through a TCRSS.

Based on the MMC (VLK) results, decisions may also be made regarding:

• The need to provide a person with limitations in daily functioning with assistive rehabilitation devices

• The need for medical leave due to illness or after an injury (post-concussion syndrome, injury or mutilation)

• The need for long-term treatment

For service members, the MMC (VLK) decision on fitness for military service remains valid for 1 year from the date it is issued.

If you disagree with the MMC (VLK) conclusion

Appealing a MMC (VLK) decision is a multi-stage process with specific deadlines. It varies depending on the formation in which you serve.

Volunteer lawyers can provide consultations via the Pryncyp chatbot for questions related to injuries. To receive a consultation, select the Injury section, submit your question, leave your contact details, and wait for a response from a lawyer.