After the start of a full-scale war, millions of Ukrainians found themselves abroad without sufficient resources and legal support. In the new reality, where refugees lead a life between two countries, legal issues arise at every step: documents, alimony, inheritance, divorce, permission to leave children, issues of military registration, etc. All this does not lose its relevance despite the physical distance from the state. That is why the Ministry of Justice reminds: the system of free legal aid in Ukraine also works for those who are outside the country.
Remote access to lawyers
Lyudmila Sugak, Deputy Minister of Justice for European Integration explains, that Ukrainians abroad can contact a lawyer remotely – by phone or in Telegram. The system of free legal assistance covers both primary (legal consultations, clarifications, assistance in filing applications) and secondary (defense in court, drawing up procedural documents, representation of interests).
To get a verbal consultation, you can call +38 (044) 363 10 41 (the cost of the call is according to the tariffs of your operator), or use voice communication in Telegram. Lawyers work from Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 18:00 Kyiv time.
Those who prefer written communication should write to the Telegram bot – it allows you to formulate questions in detail, add photos of documents, if necessary, and get a reasoned answer.
What questions most often concern Ukrainians
Among the most frequent topics of appeals are the issue of obtaining or exchanging Ukrainian documents, issuing a foreign passport, assigning an RNOCPP (identification code), deregistration of the place of residence. No less common are requests related to military registration, service of subpoenas, the need to submit applications to state authorities in Ukraine, opening or closing a sole proprietorship, tax obligations, inheritance matters, and notarial powers of attorney.
Many families need help in the field of family law – this is the collection of alimony, divorce according to the simplified procedure through the electronic court, permits for children to leave. In particular, the system supports Ukrainians who want to initiate criminal proceedings while abroad, or who intend to apply to state institutions of Ukraine in a digital format.
What to do if you need protection in court
Consultations are not the only type of assistance. If the situation requires protection in court or official representation of interests, a person can apply for secondary legal aid. Back in 2023, the BPD system developed a mechanism for remote application submission using an electronic signature. This makes legal services available to those who cannot physically visit the authorities.
On the website of the BPD system, instructions for filing such appeals are available, as well as the WikiLegalAid database of legal advice. This resource contains ready-made answers to dozens of typical questions asked by Ukrainians, including those in Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy, Spain or anywhere else.
Lyudmila Sugak reminds that the Law of Ukraine “On Free Legal Aid” guarantees equal access to legal support for all citizens – regardless of place of residence, origin, language or political views. No person can be deprived of this right just because he does not live in Ukraine. According to the official, the state works every day to ensure that every Ukrainian can protect their rights — both in Kyiv, Rome, and Toronto.
According to Suhak, legal support in critical life situations is the basis of a just society. Especially now, when millions of Ukrainians live far from home, but do not lose their legal connection with the state.
New tools for remote interaction with justice
From July 1, 2025, Ukrainians abroad have got another opportunity — submitting applications to a notary online through the e-Consul system. This means that it is no longer necessary to personally appear at the consulate in order to draw up powers of attorney, certify signatures or submit applications. According to the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiga, such a service will greatly simplify the life of Ukrainians abroad and reduce queues at embassies.
Contacts and resources:
– Telephone for voice consultations: +38 (044) 363 10 41;
– Telegram bot for written requests: through the official resource of the BPD system;
– WikiLegalAid: reference legal base;
– general resource: free legal aid online.
Working hours: Mon–Fri from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Kyiv time.
