In order to provide an opportunity to join the Defense Forces of Ukraine, the Center for Recruiting Foreigners and Stateless Persons operates in Ukraine, which is subordinate to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

Applications to join the Ukrainian Defense Forces are submitted by foreigners on the website joinuarmy.org. The website is available in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.

When submitting an application, a foreigner fills out a questionnaire in which he/she must indicate his/her name, surname, date of birth, citizenship, information about language skills, place of residence, other necessary data and attach a scanned identity document or a high-quality photograph. When filling out the questionnaire, the candidate can choose the unit in which he/she wishes to serve in the military. This option is not mandatory. The list of military units that have the ability to recruit foreign citizens, general information about them and current vacancies can be found on the website joinuarmy.org.

After receiving the application, the recruiter of the Center for Recruiting Foreigners and Stateless Persons contacts the candidate within a few days and conducts a video interview. During the interview, the candidate's identity is confirmed, his/her motivation and willingness to join the Defense Forces of Ukraine are revealed. Also at this stage, the candidate's financial ability to independently pay for the transfer to Ukraine is clarified. The recruiter also answers all the candidate's questions regarding the specifics of the service, provides information on the general features of the logistical route, visa policy, etc.

If a foreign citizen expresses a desire and has the opportunity to join the Defense Forces of Ukraine and is ready to arrive within next two months to the territory of the state with the goal of joining the Defense Forces of Ukraine, his/her preliminary check is carried out. If the foreign citizen passes the check, an invitation letter is generated. The invitation letter has a unique number, it indicates the personal data of the foreign citizen and the contact phone number of an authorized person who can confirm or deny the authenticity of the letter.

During the trip to Ukraine, the recruiter of the Ukrainian Army Recruiting Center remotely accompanies the candidate until he/she arrives at a designated point in Ukraine and provides him with information and consulting assistance. After arriving at the designated point, the candidate begins the registration process. He\she receives a TIN, passes a medical check and a special background check, etc. If the candidate meets all the criteria, he\she joins the Ukrainian Defense Forces in the unit designated by him. Later, he\she signs a contract and undergoes basic general military training at the designated training center or military unit and serves in the selected unit.

The rights and obligations of a foreign citizen serving in the Ukrainian Defense Forces are identical to those of a Ukrainian citizen military serviceman. The one is covered by the entire package of financial, social and medical guarantees, as well as state guaranteed payments made in cases of death, disability or partial loss of working capacity of military personnel.

As of June 2025, the financial allowance depends on the position held, military rank, duration, intensity and conditions of military service, and the qualifications of the serviceman. Additional payments are also provided for participation in combat missions and the conduction  of special operations.

Payment of financial support begins after the conclusion of the contract. After the completion of the background check (10-14 days from the moment of arrival in Ukraine), the candidate living expenses are covered by the host parties.

After signing a contract for the period of training at the Training Center (from 3 to 7 weeks), coordination within the unit (possibly another 1-2 weeks), and staying outside the combat zone, the financial support is 20,500 UAH per month (465 euros).

Military service provides additional benefits:

30 thousand UAH (682 euros) - for servicemen conducting combat (special) tasks outside the combat zone, in accordance with combat orders (instructions), monthly in proportion to the time spent on such tasks;

50 thousand UAH (1,136 euros) - for conducting combat (special) tasks as part of a military command body, headquarters of a group of troops (forces) or headquarters of a tactical group up to and including the command post of an operational-strategic group of troops (including outside areas of combat operations (military operations)), which carries out operational (combat) control of military units and divisions, conducting military (combat) operations on the line of combat contact at a distance of conducting combat (special) tasks by a military unit (subunit, including a consolidated unit) of the first echelon of defense or offensive (counteroffensive, counterattack) up to and including the battalion (monthly in proportion to the time of participation in such actions and events).

100 thousand hryvnias (2,272 euros) - for servicemen who take direct part in hostilities or ensure the implementation of national security and defense measures, repelling and deterring armed aggression, being directly in the areas of their conduct (implementation), in particular in the territory temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation and the territory of the enemy. In practice, this is the most common type of additional payment for foreign military personnel.

In addition, 70 thousand UAH (1,591 euros) are paid - a one-time monetary payment for every 30 days (total calculation) of combat missions on the contact line, or in temporarily occupied territory, or between the positions of the Defense Forces and the troops of the aggressor state, or on enemy territory.

So, while performing military service on the front lines, a foreign citizen will receive an average of 3-4 thousand euros per month, and under certain conditions, this amount may be higher.

The one time payment in the case of the death of servicemen during martial law is 15 million UAH (340,000 euros). The following are eligible to receive one time payment:

parents of a deceased (deceased) serviceman; one of the spouses who has not remarried;

children of a deceased serviceman who have not reached the age of majority;

dependents of a deceased serviceman (children aged 18 to 23 who are enrolled in full-time school in educational institutions; persons with disabilities; persons entitled to a pension due to the loss of the breadwinner of a deceased serviceman).

The first payment is 1/5 of the total amount, and the rest is paid monthly for 40 months.

Regulatory documents:

 

Law of Ukraine “On Military Duty and Military Service”, https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1374-2024-%D0%BF#Text

Law of Ukraine “On Social and Legal Protection of Military Personnel and Members of Their Families”, https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2011-12#n95

Decree of the President of Ukraine “On the temporary introduction of a visa-free regime”, https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/82/2022#Text

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine “On Approval of the Regulations on the

Center for Recruiting Foreigners and Stateless Persons”,

https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1374-2024-%D0%BF#Text

Contact mailbox of the Center for Recruiting Foreigners and Stateless Persons: [email protected]