Visited a reintegration center for service members released from captivity

The team of the Office of the Military Ombudsman visited one of the reintegration centers where service members released from captivity are recovering. They receive medical and psychological assistance here. The center also helps them access social and legal support.

We spoke about the Office’s work, communication channels, and the issues that service members can contact us about. We provided consultations and answered questions, including those concerning document processing, payments, the guaranteed 90 days of fully paid leave, the possibility of traveling abroad, and the right to choose whether to continue military service. The Office is working on legislative amendments to enable service members released from captivity to transfer to non-combat positions if their health does not allow them to return to combat duties.

The guide prepared by the Office’s team provides defenders with more detailed information about social guarantees and interaction with their military unit, the reintegration center, the Military Medical Commission, and the commission under the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Internally Displaced Persons.

“I went through captivity myself, so I understand very well what a person feels when returning home after years in Russian captivity. I asked my fellow service members not to hesitate to seek help, including psychological support. I left my contact details so that the guys could call me directly if they have any questions during their recovery or service. I value these meetings because they give me an opportunity to support my fellow service members and, together with the Office’s team, be useful to them,” said Serhii Mosinzovyi, Chief Specialist of the Department for Ensuring the Protection of Service Members’ Rights. At the Office of the Military Ombudsman, he is responsible for issues concerning service members released from captivity.

We also toured the new building, where defenders will stay during their recovery once renovations are completed.

We reminded service members of the importance of actively using the personal online portal for released POWs, developed by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. This information helps establish the facts of other service members’ captivity and inform their relatives.

The center’s patients also positively assessed the creation of a training module on conduct in captivity and expressed their willingness to share their own recommendations to help improve it.