Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Olha Reshetylova (Kobylynska) as the country's first military ombudswoman.

Source: Office of the President of Ukraine

Details: By a separate decree, Zelenskyy has dismissed Reshetylova from her previous transitional role as the presidential commissioner for the protection of the rights of military personnel and their families.

Quote: "Olha Reshetylova (Kobylynska) has become Ukraine's first military ombudswoman."

More details: Reshetylova said her main priority is to launch the Office of the Military Ombudsperson.

The Office of the Military Ombudsperson will operate as a permanent advisory body to the president, ensuring civilian oversight of the observance of rights across all branches of the defence forces: active-duty personnel, members of local volunteer formations, reservists in training, resistance movement participants in occupied territories and law enforcement officers engaged in combat operations.

The military ombudsperson will address issues related to military service, review complaints, conduct inspections and develop policy recommendations.

Background:

• On 19 September, Zelenskyy signed a decree establishing the Office of the Military Ombudsperson and approving its regulations.
• On 18 November 2024, Rustem Umierov, then defence minister, announced that Ukraine would establish a military ombudsperson's office to safeguard the rights of service personnel. At the time, Umierov said that the appointment would be announced soon.
• On 19 November 2024, Zelenskyy said that he had instructed the Ministry of Defence and the military command to select and appoint a military ombudsperson in the near future.
• On 30 December 2024, Zelenskyy appointed Olha Reshetylova, a human rights activist, volunteer and head of The Media Initiative for Human Rights, to the post of the presidential commissioner for the protection of the rights of military personnel and their families.
• On 19 September 2025, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) adopted the law on the military ombudsman in the second reading and in its entirety.

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