Ukraine to Establish a Single Center for Recruiting Foreigners into the Armed Forces: What We Know About the New Unit

Ukraine plans to establish a single center for recruiting foreigners into the Armed Forces and the National Guard. Find out what functions the new unit will perform, when it might begin operations, and what this means for foreigners who want to serve in Ukraine

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Ukraine plans to establish a special coordination center to recruit foreigners and stateless persons into military service. The new unit is intended to oversee all stages of the recruitment process—from identifying candidates to supporting service members throughout their service.

As noted on the website of the President’s Office, this was announced by Kirill Budanov, Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, following a meeting attended by representatives of the Defense Forces and members of parliament.

Ukraine aims to centralize the recruitment of foreigners into the military

During the meeting, participants discussed the issue of enlisting foreigners and stateless persons for contract service in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guard.

According to Kirill Budanov, the process of recruiting foreigners is currently divided among various agencies. These agencies are responsible for searching for candidates, assessing their fitness for service, organizing training, and providing for military personnel. As a result, the system is more complicated, and coordination between units remains insufficient.

“Ukraine needs to establish a single coordination center for recruiting foreigners into military service. This should be a structural unit that covers all stages: from search, selection, and transportation to training, support, and other needs of foreign citizens,” Budanov noted.

Read also: How to obtain an immigration permit in Ukraine after the end of a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine?

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What functions will the new center perform?

The new body is expected to be responsible for the full cycle of support for foreigners enlisting in the Ukrainian military. Among the main areas of work:

● searching for and recruiting candidates abroad;

● organizing logistics and arrival in Ukraine;

● assessing fitness for service;

● coordinating training and preparation;

● ensuring communication and support during service;

● assisting with organizational and daily living issues.

Separately, during the meeting, the issue of engaging interpreters for effective communication with foreign military personnel was discussed.

Deputy Head of the Office of the President Pavlo Palisa stated that specific units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine or the National Guard, which are interested in training military personnel using their own methods, could take on part of the training and support for foreign nationals.

When could the new system be operational?

Meeting participants agreed that by the end of May 2026, they must prepare a mechanism for establishing a new structural unit within the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. The following is also planned:

● develop a program to expand the foreign recruitment system;

● draft legislative amendments to address outstanding issues;

● establish support mechanisms for foreign nationals throughout their entire period of service.

According to Kyrylo Budanov, the new center is intended to ensure more effective coordination and simplify all processes for foreigners who wish to join the defense of Ukraine.

What is important for foreigners planning to serve in Ukraine to know?

At present, the final operating rules for the new center have not yet been published. However, foreigners planning to enter Ukraine or serve under contract should already check immigration and legal requirements in advance.

In particular, issues regarding legal residence, document processing, permits, and support during their stay in Ukraine remain important. In such cases, foreigners can take advantage of consultations with immigration lawyers at Visit Ukraine, who help navigate the rules for entry and residence in Ukraine.

Read also: Visa-free entry to Ukraine in 2026 — list of countries.

Why is Ukraine changing its approach to recruitment?

Since the start of the full-scale war, thousands of foreign volunteers from around the world have joined the defense of Ukraine. However, due to the lack of a centralized system, many processes remained complex and disorganized.

The creation of a single center is intended to make recruitment more manageable and to improve the training and support of foreign military personnel.

We remind you! Ukraine always welcomes foreign visitors, and its borders, despite the war, remain open to tourists. Read more about how to travel to Ukraine and what you need to do so.

Photo: president.gov.ua

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