On Sergiy Sternenko's channel, guest Olha Reshetylova—Ukraine’s first ever military ombudsman—discusses the launch of this new institution, the challenges of building a team, and the main areas of the ombudsman’s work.
The decision to create the ombudsman's office was made by the Verkhovna Rada in 2023. Staff recruitment is in progress: at least 30% of positions (50 out of 150 employees) must be filled before official work begins. The first stage focuses on overcoming bureaucratic hurdles and assembling a qualified team. Special attention is given to hiring technocrats from the state sector and specialists with military experience.
Reshetylova emphasized that any servicemember in the security and defense sector can contact the ombudsman regarding rights violations during their service. Issues cover social guarantees, financial support, refusal of leave or transfer, as well as systemic concerns like payment problems and prolonged frontline assignments.
The ombudsman’s jurisdiction extends to the Armed Forces, National Guard, Security Service (SBU), Foreign Intelligence (SZR), and State Protection (UDO). The main goal is to help solve systemic problems in military rights protection and to develop proposals for top command.
The office is actively seeking professionals, especially lawyers and communicators, with open positions in international cooperation still available.
The interview also covered a volunteer fundraising campaign for drones for the military, with listeners invited to join a prize draw for a themed knife via charitable donations. The work of the military ombudsman depends on both public support and strong political will to resolve urgent problems for Ukraine’s military personnel.
