The team of the Military Ombudsman conducted monitoring in combat units

The team of the Military Ombudsman conducted an on-site monitoring visit to one of the military formations in order to assess service conditions and the observance of servicemembers’ rights. In particular, representatives of the Office spoke with soldiers who are preparing to deploy to their positions in the coming days.

We saw motivated soldiers and officers demonstrating a high level of cohesion and responsible leadership. At the same time, many servicemembers who have recently completed basic military training face significant health issues that make it impossible for them to carry out combat tasks effectively.

We emphasize that poorly conducted or merely formal military medical commissions and mobilization procedures create serious problems for commanders and ultimately lead to the ineffective use of personnel, which negatively affects the conduct of combat operations.

The Office of the Military Ombudsman once again emphasizes the need for a systemic solution to this problem. This requires joint responsibility from both the state and its citizens. We call on persons liable for military service to take greater care of their health and to undergo medical examinations prior to mobilization. At the same time, any authority involved in mobilization procedures must ensure the proper quality and credibility of decisions at every stage. Combat units must be composed of individuals who are capable of carrying out assigned tasks. Only in this way will new recruits strengthen the country’s defense capabilities, rather than placing an additional burden on commanders, the armed forces, and the state budget, only to be discharged later on health grounds.