New Military Ombudsman Appointed

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine has officially appointed Olha Reshetylova (Kobylynska) as the country’s first Military Ombudsman, a landmark move aimed at bolstering the rights and protection of military personnel. The appointment, enacted through presidential decree, marks a significant step in advancing the oversight and advocacy roles within the Ukrainian military framework.

Previously serving as the Presidential Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights of Military Personnel and Their Families, Reshetylova was released from this role to take up her new position as Military Ombudsman. This change follows the President’s decree on September 19, which initiated the creation of the Office of the Military Ombudsman and set forth its operational guidelines.

The newly established Office of the Military Ombudsman will operate as a permanent auxiliary body under the President of Ukraine. It is tasked with ensuring civilian oversight over the observance of rights within all components of the Defense Forces. This includes active-duty service members, members of volunteer units of territorial communities, reservists undergoing training, participants in the resistance movement under occupation, and law enforcement officers engaged in combat operations. Reshetylova emphasized her commitment to maintaining momentum in addressing complaints and appeals from servicemembers, ensuring their protection, and restoring justice within the military system.