The team of the Office of the Military Ombudsman met with foreign military attachés

The team of the Office of the Military Ombudsman met with foreign military attachés on 23 January. Olha Reshetylova outlined the priorities of the newly established institution and highlighted how Ukraine is adopting international practices while shaping its own experience that will be valuable for other countries.

“Around the world, military ombuds institutions were mostly established in post-war periods. When I ask my European colleagues about their experience, they generously share it. But at the same time, they tell me, it is you who will have to explain what it means to be a Military Ombudsman during wartime,” Olha Reshetylova said.

The team of the Office is learning from and integrating Dutch practices in military mediation, French approaches to engagement with foreign servicemembers, and the UK’s models for processing complaints, along with experience from other countries. Ukraine is building the institution of the Military Ombudsman in the context of a full-scale war — with limited time and resources, but with high public expectations and a strong responsibility toward servicemembers.

We are ready to share our unique experience and are open to joint initiatives that will help more effectively protect the rights of servicemembers. We are grateful to the Department of International Defence Cooperation of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine for supporting the organization of this event.