President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree appointing Olga Reshetilova (Kobylinska) as military ombudsman. By another decree, the head of state dismissed her from the position of Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for the Protection of the Rights of Servicemen and Members of Their Families. Thus, Olga Reshetilova became the first female military ombudsman in the history of Ukraine.
“This is about real protection of the rights of our soldiers. It is important that this is felt at all levels in the Defense Forces of Ukraine: we are doing what strengthens the army, we are also doing what strengthens the soldiers in our army, ”said Volodymyr Zelensky.
Currently, active work is underway to create the Office of the Military Ombudsman. The President signed the corresponding decree on September 19 of this year, also approving the regulations on it.
“The main priority now is the launch of the Office of the Military Ombudsman. At this time, it is also important not to lose momentum in processing and responding to appeals and complaints from servicemen. Both in the status of the President’s Commissioner and in the status of the Military Ombudsman, I will work to ensure a sense of security for the military and to restore justice for them, Olga Reshetylova noted.
The Office of the Military Ombudsman will become a permanent auxiliary body under the President of Ukraine, which will ensure civilian control over compliance with the rights of all Defense Forces – active military personnel, volunteer formations of territorial communities, reservists on exercises, participants in the resistance movement in the occupied territories, and law enforcement officers participating in combat operations.
The Military Ombudsman will consider complaints, resolve problematic issues of the service, and will have the right to initiate inspections and develop appropriate decisions.
